ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Security operatives have successfully rescued five sisters kidnapped in the Zuma 1 area of Kawu, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, on 2 January, 2024.
The rescue, which took place on Saturday, came after the unfortunate death of one of the sisters, 21-year-old Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, following a ransom deadline.
The armed men kidnapped the sisters from their home, just 15 miles (25 kilometers) from Abuja city center.
According to a statement by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, the girls were rescued on Saturday night in the Kajuru forest in neighboring Kaduna State.
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“The FCT Police has rescued the victims and reunited them with their families,” stated the police.
After the tragic incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the “recent spate of kidnappings and bandit attacks,” emphasizing the need to address the escalating insecurity.
Kidnapping for ransom has been on the rise in the Federal Capital Territory, with criminal gangs targeting various locations. Bandits often operate from bases in forests across the northwest and central states.
Despite the Nigerian law prohibiting the payment of ransom to kidnappers, many families, lacking faith in the authorities, feel compelled to comply.
The kidnapping issue has gained national attention, with the 276 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction by Boko Haram in 2014 being a significant incident in Nigeria’s recent history.