UPDATED: Panic in Abuja as kidnappers hit FCT, Lecturer, four others abducted

Residents of the federal capital territory, Abuja are in panic mode following the abduction of at least five persons over the weekend.

Among the victims, is a lecturer at Base University, Abuja, Abubakar Alkali. Others include two teenagers returning from Quranic lecture at Wuse zone 6, as well as Hannah Azuibuike and Ummi Ardo who was kidnapped outside Blickers super market in Asokoro.

The father of one of the victims, Umni Ardo, in a brief statement on Sunday, confirmed the abduction his daughter.

He said, “My daughter, Ai’shat Umar Ardo (Ummi)), 24, was kidnapped at Blinkers Shopping mall, No.46 Nkwame Nkurma crescent, Asokoro around 7:45 pm yesterday.

“They put her in an ash Camry and zoomed off. Nothing is heard of her since, and no call is yet received from them. Your prayer is needed. Thank you.”

The spokesman for the FCT police command has also confirmed the incident but was short on details.

Meanwhile, Some reports early Monday, suggest that Aishat Ardo, one of the kidnapped victims was freed late on Sunday night after her father paid $15,000 in bitcoin.

The FCT police command has also in a statement by its spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah, played down the report of rampant kidnap cases in the city and urged residents to go about their normal businesses without fear.

Manzah’s statement read, “The FCT police command wishes to assure residents that the federal capital territory is safe and the police has reinvigorated its crime-fighting strategy to ensure the to ensure the protection of lives and property,” he said.

“Contrary to speculations about an upsurge in this crime, the command wishes to correct the notion and inform the public that the aforementioned were the only cases reported to the police and efforts are being intensified to arrest the suspects.

“The command wants to reaffirm its commitment to protect lives and property by deploying pro-active security measures that would nip this crime in the bud.”
He also claimed the police has rescued the abducted lecturer.

*Above: Picture of abducted lecture, Abubakar Alkali, courtesy Social media