THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command on Monday confirmed the release of Aishat Umar Ardo, daughter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain, Umar Ardo who was kidnapped outside a popular mall around 7:45 pm on Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.
Anjuguri Manzah, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command told The ICIR, the abducted girl was released but did not give details or circumstances that surrounded her release from her abductors.
Social Media report earlier claimed she was released after her father had paid $15, 000 in form of bitcoin to the kidnappers. “Alhamdulillah miss Aishat Umar Ardo has just been released after her father paid the $15,000 in bitcoin ransom,” the report stated. “She just called her dad to pick her up at 4th Avenue Gwarinpa.”
However, the police could not confirm the $15,000 claim.
“I don’t know about that,” says Manzah, adding: “All I can tell you is she has been released.”
She was among five persons including a lecturer with the Baze University, earlier kidnapped by abductors on Saturday.
The lecturer was later released on Saturday with assurances from the police command to fight criminalities in the territory.
“It is pertinent to inform the public that the Police have successfully rescued the Baze University lecturer, who was kidnapped on 8th September 2019,” FCT Police Command said in a statement Sunday evening.
In the statement issued by Manzah, the police reiterated its commitment to public safety, and urged Abuja residents to disregard social media claims on the upsurge of criminality in Abuja.
“The Command wants to reaffirm its commitment to the protect lives and property by deploying proactive security measures that will nip this crime in the board”.
Failed responsibilities
The ICIR had earlier reported increased cases of criminality in the territory, especially the trend of ‘one chance’ which has remained unabated.
For first-time visitors, the sight of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on major roads suggests that Abuja, the seat of power, is well under tight security surveillance. But a second and closer look will reveal that the technology offers nothing more than physical presence — the cameras are not working.
The N76 billion National Public Security Communication System, mostly known as the CCTV project in Abuja is one of the failed measures meant to keep the territory more secure but laid in ruins.
Signed in 2010, an attempt was made to revive the failed project eight years after, but till date, the CCTV project which is meant to help in policing the territory has been vandalised with many of its components across the city carted away.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at [email protected]. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin