A joint team comprising officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the police have successfully rescued Mrs. Ladi Abel, the 45-year-old wife of a senior immigration officer, who was abducted along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while heading to the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos.

According to her daughter, Miss Naomi Abel, her mother was kidnapped at Torikoh Bus Stop, Badagry, by armed men operating in two commercial buses. She explained that the attackers sprayed a white substance inside the vehicle, which rendered several passengers unconscious, before abducting about 15 people and taking them to their hideout in the Ibereko area.

Naomi added that her mother later recounted how some of the abductees appeared to be working in collaboration with the kidnappers.

Mrs. Abel was eventually rescued late Tuesday night by security operatives at a swampy location on Ogunleye Street, Ibereko. The kidnappers reportedly fled after learning that the rescue team was closing in on them.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Seme Border Command, Mr. Isaac Elijah, said the joint rescue operation took place around 11:45 p.m. He disclosed that the operation involved about 20 immigration officers, 25 police personnel, and members of the Ibereko community.

“The Divisional Police Officer of Badagry Police Station, Folajimi Akosile, led the team that stormed the kidnappers’ hideout. Unfortunately, the suspects had escaped before our arrival,” Elijah said.

The victim’s husband, Mr. Abel Mada, revealed that he had already paid a ransom of N2.5 million before receiving news of his wife’s rescue.

“They initially demanded N3 million. I transferred N500,000 in the afternoon and another N2 million later in the evening. I was still trying to raise the balance when I got a call that she had been freed,” he recounted.

Expressing gratitude, Naomi thanked the police, immigration officers, and members of the Ibereko community for their timely intervention, which she said spared the family from further distress.