By Peter Dansu The wife of a senior officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Ladi Abel, who was abducted along the Lagos–Badagry E...
By Peter Dansu
The wife of a senior officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Ladi Abel, who was abducted along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, has been rescued after a coordinated operation by security operatives.
The 45-year-old victim was reportedly kidnapped last weekend while heading to the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos. Her daughter, Miss Naomi Abel, recounted how her mother was taken by a gang operating with two commercial buses at Torikoh Bus Stop, Badagry.
According to Naomi, the kidnappers sprayed a strange white substance that rendered passengers unconscious before whisking away about 15 people to an unknown location in the Ibereko area.
“She said that when she regained consciousness, she realized that some of the people held with them were actually working with the kidnappers,” Naomi told newsmen, visibly shaken but relieved her mother was safe.
Mrs. Abel was eventually rescued late Tuesday night by a combined team of Immigration officers, police personnel, and local vigilantes at a swampy hideout on Ogunleye Street, Ibereko. The kidnappers reportedly fled moments before the security team arrived.
Confirming the operation, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Seme Border Command, Mr. Isaac Elijah, said the rescue was carried out around 11:45 p.m.
“The joint operation involved about 20 Immigration officers, 25 police personnel, and members of the Ibereko community,” he explained. “The Divisional Police Officer of Badagry, CSP Folajimi Akosile, led the operation that uncovered the hideout. Unfortunately, none of the suspects was arrested as they had escaped before our arrival.”
Meanwhile, the victim’s husband, Mr. Abel Mada, disclosed that he had already paid a ransom of N2.5 million before learning of his wife’s release.
“They initially demanded N3 million. I sent N500,000 in the afternoon and another N2 million in the evening. I was still trying to raise the balance when I got a call that she had been rescued,” he said.
Expressing gratitude, Naomi commended the Nigeria Police, the Immigration Service, and members of the Ibereko community for their swift intervention.
“Their timely action saved us from more pain and financial stress. We are just grateful to have our mother back alive,” she said with emotion.
Authorities have since intensified efforts to track down the fleeing kidnappers believed to be part of a wider syndicate terrorizing commuters along the Lagos–Badagry corridor.
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