Nigerian Army troops rescue Mrs Adonkie, wife of retired Brig.-Gen. Basil Adonkie, less than 24 hours after her abduction in Abuja, arresting two suspects and recovering an AK-47 rifle.
Abuja — September 2-3, 2026
The Nigerian Army has rescued Mrs Adonkie, wife of retired Brigadier General Basil Adonkie, less than 24 hours after she was abducted from her residence in the Federal Capital Territory, arresting two suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate in a follow-up operation.
According to a special situation report from the Guards Brigade, Mrs Adonkie was abducted at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, prompting an immediate joint search-and-rescue operation by troops of the Army Headquarters Garrison (AHQ GAR) and other Army formations.
Troops mobilised rapidly along multiple fronts to prevent the kidnappers from escaping with the victim.
AHQ GAR troops advanced through the Aco Estate–Gosa Community axis, where they made contact with the abductors. Overwhelmed by the troops' rapid response and superior firepower, the kidnappers reportedly abandoned their victim and fled into nearby bushes.
Mrs Adonkie was subsequently rescued at Angwan-Sabo Village, while a separate group of troops continued pursuing the fleeing suspects along the Aco Estate–Angwan Sayawa axis, with additional troops deployed to strategic locations to block possible escape routes.
The operation continued into the early hours of September 2, with a second team, comprising troops of the 176 Guards Battalion and 197 Special Forces Battalion, deployed specifically to intercept the fleeing syndicate members. At about 11:09 a.m. on Wednesday, these troops intercepted and arrested two suspects around Gaube Village in Kuje Area Council, FCT.
Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the suspects during the arrest.
The Guards Brigade confirmed that Mrs Adonkie has been reunited with her family, while the two arrested suspects remain in Army custody for profiling and further exploitation.
The Army said operations are continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the kidnap syndicate still at large, adding that troop morale and fighting efficiency remain high.
The swift, less-than-24-hour resolution of this case reflects the kind of rapid, multi-front response security forces have increasingly deployed for high-profile abductions in and around the capital, echoing a similar operation earlier this year in which troops rescued a retired Army colonel in Plateau State without paying a ransom, despite threats from his abductors.
The Adonkie case adds to a string of recent kidnapping incidents targeting current and former security personnel and their families across the FCT and North Central corridor, underscoring that even well-connected households remain vulnerable to the region's ongoing insecurity.
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