*BACKGROUND TO THE KIDNAPPING AND EFFORTS MADE BY HQ 1 DIV IN SECURING THE RELEASE OF DR GANIYYAT POPOOLA AND HER NEPHEW FOLARANMI ABDUL MUGNIY*
1. Dr Ganiyat Nurudeen Popoola was abducted along with her husband Sqn Ldr Nurudeen Abiodun Popoola and teenage nephew Master Folaranmi Abdul Mugniy on 27 Dec 23 at their official residential home (Doctors’ Quarters at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna).
Since her abduction, several kinetic and non-kinetic operations were undertaken by troops of 1 Division and defunct Operation WHIRL PUNCH (now Sector 1 Operation GANSAN YAMMA) to secure her release from the terrorists captivity. The efforts yielded partial positive result with the release of her husband Sqn Ldr Popoola on 8 Mar 24.
The terrorists had made several demands for ransome money amounting to more than one hundred million naira and some logistics items including motorcycles from the family members before the commencement of intense military kinetic operations that denied them freedom of movements out of their enclaves in the forests and access to basic logistics such as food. The combined effects of this operation mounted so much pressure on the terrorists that eventually led to a plea by the terrorists for amnesty to enable them to surrender.
Their plea was subsequently considered on some given conditions including the immediate release of Dr Ganiyat and her nephew among others. The terrorists finally accepted the given conditions but also requested for the return or payment of compensation for their cattle killed or recovered during various kinetic operations which were handed over to Kaduna State Livestock Agency for custody and further necessary actions.
2. The prolonged ordeal had inflicted immense emotional and psychological trauma on Dr Ganiyat’s immediate family and friends particularly her husband and five children including an infant who was being catered for by her extended family members.
3. Accordingly, Sqn Ldr Popoola and their 3 daughters; Muadha, Mazeeda and Mariam who are all pupils of Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School Kaduna have visited to see Dr Ganiyyat at 1 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Dalet Barracks Kaduna on 31 Oct 24 where she is presently being medically examined but in high spirits.
She will thereafter be taken for debriefing and further psycho-social support by appropriate authorities.
