Daring Midnight Rescue: How Kidnapped Naval Officer and Two Others Were Freed in FCT

By: Zagazola Makama

In a high-stakes rescue operation, security forces successfully freed Lieutenant Cynthia Akor, a Nigerian Navy officer, along with her friend Gold Alfred and a businessman, Abdullahi Adeku, after they were abducted in Mpape Village, Abuja.

The victims were kidnapped on March 21, 2025, around 7:45 p.m., with the abductors demanding an exorbitant ransom—₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the other two hostages.

Determined to neutralize the threat, a joint security task force, including operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), local hunters, and military personnel from both the Army and Navy, launched an aggressive manhunt.

The search spanned dense forests and rugged hills across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Muazu, and Yelwa, covering territories within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State. Intelligence-led operations soon led security operatives to Fulani settlements near the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Army Estate, where they uncovered a major lead.

During a coordinated raid, security agents discovered ₦3.2 million in suspected ransom money with Hauwa Buhari, the wife of a key suspect, Buhari Usman, who managed to evade capture. Authorities also detained eight relatives of the fleeing criminals, including Usman’s father, Alhaji Usman Rago, and several wives of other gang members.

As negotiations intensified, security forces tightened the noose around the kidnappers’ stronghold in Unguwan Muazu forest, Nasarawa State. Fearing imminent capture, the abductors succumbed to sustained pressure, eventually releasing all three captives in the dead of night.

Between 2:03 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on March 23, Lieutenant Akor, Alfred, and Adeku were safely recovered, marking the end of a tense, round-the-clock operation.

The rescued victims are currently undergoing medical evaluation at the Nigerian Army Clinics, while security agencies remain on high alert, working tirelessly to track down the fleeing suspects.

This daring operation underscores the resilience and tactical precision of Nigeria’s security forces in combating the rising menace of kidnapping-for-ransom in the country.