How Army stormed kidnappers den, rescued commissioner

”Acting on actionable intelligence on victim’s whereabouts, troops laid a tacit ambush for the kidnappers around Peter Effiong Creek, Messembe, Jebs."

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Troops of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Calabar, deployed for Operation Akpakwu, have rescued the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Cross River, Mrs Gertrude Njar, from captivity.

The announcement of her rescue is contained in a statement by Capt. Dorcas Aluko, Army Public Relations Officer, 13 Brigade, Calabar on Wednesday.

The Commissioner was kidnapped on Feb. 1 in Mayne Avenue area, Calabar South.

”Acting on actionable intelligence on victim’s whereabouts, troops laid a tacit ambush for the kidnappers around Peter Effiong Creek, Messembe, Jebs.

”The gallant troops tactically sprung an ambush to take the kidnappers by surprise while in search of the victim.

”In the ensuing melee, the criminals abandoned the victim and fled into the creeks,” Aluko said.

She added that the troops were on the trail of the fleeing criminals.

According to Aluko, the victim is currently receiving medical treatment, after which she will be discharged.

”The Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army commends troops for their gallantry and urges them to sustain the tempo against all criminal elements in the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.

Gunmen abducted the Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Gertrude Njar at Mayne Avenue-Atamunu axis in Calabar South.

Her abductors were said to have contacted her family to demand a ransom of N60 million.

An eyewitness, Sunday Modim who spoke to the paper, disclosed that the Commissioner, Mrs Njar was accosted by gunmen claiming to be military personnel along Mayne Avenue by Atamunu Street at about 8:00 am, demanding to know why she was driving a car with a covered number plate.

According to Modim, while Mrs Njar was trying to explain and call some top government officials to come to her aid, the kidnappers abruptly stopped her calls, dragged her into her official vehicle and whisked her away to an unknown destination.

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