No fewer than 40 bandits on Tuesday invaded the staff quarters abducting the victims.
Staff members of the University of Abuja and their family members abducted by gunmen on Tuesday have been released, SaharaReporters learnt.
Recall that the victims were kidnapped from the staff quarters of the University, located in the Giri area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a recent development, a source confirmed that they have now been released without the payment of any ransom.
The source said, “UniAbuja kidnapped victims rescued, unharmed, no ransom paid. Several arrests made!"
The Federal Capital Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the development in a statement this morning (Friday), saying, “The FCT Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that all abducted victims of the University of Abuja were rescued and reunited with their families through a joint operation with other security agencies. More details coming soon.”
No fewer than 40 bandits on Tuesday invaded the staff quarters abducting the victims. [story_link align="left"]100737[/story_link]
The scene of the attack was near the Nigerian Army’s barracks and a checkpoint reportedly of personnel of the army’s Guards’ Battalion.
The eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said the bandits operated for over an hour and 30 minutes.
One of them claimed the bewildered residents of the staff quarters and neighbours tried without success to reach out to security agents.
She said some soldiers finally responded after the bandits had freely operated without resistance. The eyewitness revealed that a public primary school behind the quarters was used by the bandits as their operational base while the assault lasted.
Giri is about 45 kilometres from the three Arms Zone that houses the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court.
It is almost the same distance from the headquarters of key security agencies.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) had given the Nigerian Government a 48-hour ultimatum to rescue the victims.
ASUU Chairman in the institution, Dr Kasim Umar while addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday said they were dissatisfied with the inability of security agencies to rescue their colleagues 48 hours since the abduction.