ARMY FREES RETIRED GENERAL’S WIFE HOURS AFTER ABUJA ABDUCTION, TWO SUSPECTS HELD

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued the wife of retired Brigadier General Basil Adonkie less than 24 hours after she was abducted from her residence in the Federal Capital Territory, with two suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate also arrested during the operation.

The woman, identified as Mrs Adonkie, was reportedly abducted on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Following the incident, troops from the Guards Brigade and Army Headquarters Garrison launched a coordinated operation aimed at locating the victim and tracking the kidnappers through suspected escape routes.

According to the Nigerian Army, the rescue operation was driven by credible intelligence that enabled troops to advance through the Aco Estate–Goza Community axis, where they eventually made contact with the suspected kidnappers. The operation was subsequently expanded as troops pursued members of the group believed to have been involved in the abduction.

The Army said the victim was successfully recovered after the coordinated military response, while two suspected members of the kidnapping group were apprehended near Gaube Village in Kuje Area Council of the FCT. The arrests followed a follow-up operation conducted by troops on Wednesday as they continued searching for the fleeing members of the criminal group.

During the operation, the troops also recovered an AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine and 19 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition. The recovery of the weapon and ammunition is expected to assist ongoing investigations into the activities of the suspected kidnapping syndicate and determine whether the group has been involved in other criminal operations within the FCT and surrounding areas.

The successful rescue comes amid continuing security concerns surrounding kidnappings and other violent crimes in communities around the Federal Capital Territory. The Army’s swift deployment of troops in response to the abduction reflects its continued use of intelligence-led operations and coordinated pursuit efforts to locate victims and disrupt criminal networks.

The Nigerian Army has not disclosed the identities of the two arrested suspects or provided further details about their alleged roles in the kidnapping. Investigations are expected to continue as security personnel work to establish the full structure of the syndicate and track down other members who may have escaped during the operation.

The Army has also not indicated whether any ransom was paid before Mrs Adonkie was rescued. The circumstances surrounding the abduction, including how the kidnappers gained access to the residence and the route used to move the victim, remain subject to further investigation.

The rescue of Mrs Adonkie and the arrests are expected to provide investigators with additional intelligence that could help uncover the wider network behind the operation. Security agencies are likely to continue efforts to identify other suspects and prevent similar attacks within Abuja and neighbouring communities.