Gunmen have abducted a Nigerian Navy officer attached to the Defence Headquarters, Lt. Cynthia Akor, along with two others in Abuja.

The victims were kidnapped from their residence in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday night.

A resident in the area said the kidnappers have contacted the families of the hostages, demanding a ransom of N100 million for their release.

“Among the three people that were kidnapped on Friday night in the Mpape area is a DHQ official, Akor.

“The kidnappers have already reached out to their families and are demanding N100m ransom,” the resident said.

Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, were unsuccessful, as they had yet to respond to messages as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said she would confirm the incident and provide further details.

“I will confirm and get back to you shortly,” she simply stated.

She has not reverted as of the time of filing this report.

The Edo State Anti-Kidnapping Task Force has demolished a property in Uromi, Esan North Local Government Area, belonging to Odianosen Oboh, due to his involvement in kidnapping activities in Edo Central.

A statement issued on Thursday in Benin by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Edo Governor, confirmed that the demolition followed Oboh’s arrest and confession to his role in multiple kidnappings.

Itua, in the statement, said Oboh allegedly admitted that he had recently received N800,000 from a kidnapping operation.

“My name is Odianosen Oboh. This house was built by my father, but I completed it. I joined my friend, Epama, in kidnapping a man.

“We abducted him from Ekpoma, and when the vehicle we were using broke down, I transported him on my motorcycle. After holding him for three days in the bush, we received a N5 million ransom.

“My share was N800,000, which I used to pay off debts. Epama was arrested, and I was later caught.

“Now, my house and my father’s house are being demolished because of N800,000. My family is homeless, and my children are suffering. I deeply regret my actions,” Oboh said in the statement.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Affairs, Akhere Paul, who supervised the demolition, reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating kidnapping in the state.

“There is no peace for the wicked. The government will not relent until kidnappers are eliminated.

“If you are involved in kidnapping, your time will come, and we will come for you.”

Commander of the Edo Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, SP Michael Anetor, confirmed that Oboh had fully confessed to his involvement in kidnapping.

“I personally interviewed him, and he admitted to the crime.

“He participated once with Palmer, whose house was also demolished. We will not rest until kidnapping is completely eradicated in Edo State,” he said.

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two persons in connection with the explosion that rocked the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC,-operated Trans Niger Delta Pipeline.

The incident occurred from Monday night through to Tuesday morning at the border of Kpor and Bodo communities.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement that a “thorough investigation to determine the cause” of the explosion, which resulted in an inferno, has commenced.

The PPRO confirmed that “two individuals have been taken in for questioning as part of efforts to uncover any potential act of sabotage.”

“The Command remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of criminal activities are identified and brought to justice.

“We urge residents to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them of our unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.

The Command will not relent in its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and maintain peace and security for all.

“For any useful information regarding this incident or any suspicious activities, members of the public are encouraged to contact the nearest police station or call these lines,” the statement added.