How NAF officer foiled kidnap attempt in Abuja

Air Commodore John Ijudigal, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officer, has foiled a kidnap attempt by a suspected ‘one-chance’ robbery syndicate in Abuja.

The incident happened at Accra Road, Wuse Zone 5, on Wednesday.

Three of the suspects were arrested while two of the kidnapped victims were rescued, according to a statement by the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, on Saturday.

Gabkwet said the incident occurred at about 7:28 p.m. when Ijudigal was commuting home in his staff car after work.

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He said the NAF officer, while heading home, came across a distressing scene with an Abuja-painted taxi reversing at high speed as the terrified passengers inside screamed for help.

“In pursuit of the taxi was a black Toyota Land Cruiser. Instinctively, Air Commodore Ijudigal immediately joined in the pursuit by using his official vehicle to block the escape route of the criminals.

“The driver of the ‘one-chance’ vehicle, in a state of panic, then collided with Air Commodore Idjudigal’s official vehicle, resulting in significant damage to both cars. The impact caused the ‘one-chance’ vehicle to skid into a nearby garden.

“Following the collision, Air Commodore Ijudigal promptly exited his vehicle and chased after one of the occupants of the ‘one-chance’ taxi, who had fled into a nearby bush. With the assistance of onlookers gathered at the accident scene, the driver of the ‘one-chance’ vehicle, along with two other suspects (a male and a female), were apprehended, while two female victims were rescued.

“Subsequently, Air Commodore Ijudigal contacted the nearest police post and personally ensured the three criminals were handed over to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Mr Benneth Igweh, at his office,” the statement said.

The statement quoted the FCT Commissioner of Police as commending Ijudigal for his courage, “highlighting that his intervention not only foiled a robbery/kidnapping attempt but also played crucial role in apprehending criminals who have constituted a security risk to law-abiding citizens of the FCT.”

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since commended the NAF officer for his bravery and act of selfless service, it added.

Daily Trust reports that Abuja witnessed a surge of criminal attacks in the early hours of January ranging from kidnapping and other.

Following these attacks by kidnappers and bandits in the FCT, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun in order to curtail the insecurity, launched a Special Intervention Squad (SIS) in the FCT to tackle the rising insurgency.

The new FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, upon assuming office on Friday, February 2, also charged the heads of the tactical units of the FCT Police command to fish out every black spot and kidnappers’ den in the territory and take the fight to them as soon as possible.