In a daring operation, gunmen have abducted a senior Nigerian Army officer, Master Warrant Officer Abdulfatai Odutola, along the Abuja-Jos highway, demanding a hefty N20 million ransom for his release, SaharaReporters has learned.
According to military sources, Odutola, an experienced Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) attached to the 23 Brigade Yola, was traveling to Adamawa State’s capital when he was ambushed and taken hostage last Saturday.
An internal military memo obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed the distressing incident. The document revealed that Odutola had departed from Ilorin on Friday, February 14, 2025, and spent the night in Abuja before resuming his journey the next day. Unfortunately, he fell into the hands of kidnappers before reaching his destination.
The memo read:
“Information reaching me now from this soldier Whisky is that MWO Abdulfatai Odutola (CC 23 Bde Yola) was kidnapped yesterday along Abuja-Jos Road while returning to Yola. He left Ilorin on Friday, February 14, and slept in Abuja before continuing his journey yesterday when the incident occurred. The kidnappers are currently demanding N20,000,000 for his release. Appropriate authorities should intervene immediately.”
The abduction has raised serious concerns about the worsening security situation on major highways, particularly in the North-Central region, where kidnappings for ransom have surged.
Wave of Attacks on the Military
This latest abduction comes as Nigeria’s military grapples with multiple security challenges. In a separate development, Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists launched a ferocious assault on a military base in Borno State, killing three soldiers and leaving a trail of destruction.
According to SaharaReporters, the terrorists attacked the military facility in Isige town, Gwoza Local Government Area, last Sunday, engaging troops in combat for several hours. The insurgents reportedly set fire to military structures, stole two gun trucks, and left chaos in their wake.
“There was an attack in Borno recently. A Staff Sergeant and two private soldiers were killed. However, the army authorities have remained silent on the incident. The terrorists burned one military vehicle and took away two gun trucks before reinforcements arrived.”
This latest strike follows a brutal assault on the military’s Forward Operating Base in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, where numerous soldiers were reportedly killed, and many remain missing.
“The 25 Task Force Brigade was attacked over the weekend, leading to heavy casualties. So far, we have recovered over seven bodies,” another source revealed.
The recurring attacks and abductions highlight the persistent security crisis facing Nigeria, with armed groups becoming increasingly emboldened. Meanwhile, families of kidnapped and fallen soldiers continue to endure the agony of uncertainty, awaiting action from military authorities and the government.
The abduction of Master Warrant Officer Odutola is yet another grim reminder of the growing vulnerability of even the nation’s security forces. If senior military personnel can be abducted in broad daylight, ordinary citizens are left even more defenseless.
With insecurity on the rise, the Nigerian military and security agencies face mounting pressure to curb the growing menace of kidnapping and insurgency before it spirals further out of control.
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