Yesterday, the Ministry of Interior was able to free an Emirati Citizen, who was abducted by gangsters in Nigeria. The offenders took him hostage and asked for a ransom, but “our ministry” did not allow them to have it, and even better they arrested the perpetrators as well.
His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, reasserted the country’s commitment to the safety of its citizens wherever they are. He highlighted the attention that His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE gave to the case; HH directed to free the hostage as quickly as possible. He assured the intensive tracking of the matter by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to carry out the President’s instructions.
His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said: “Whatever criminal forces have in terms of tools and skills, we will always remain lying in wait for them, due to the continuous support and refreshments given by the Higher Commandment.”
Lt. General Abdul Aziz Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director General of Protective Security and Federal Investigation at the Ministry of Interior availed the details saying: “A taskforce was formed according to His Highness’s instructions; it was assigned to secure the hostage and arrest the criminals by working in two groups divided between Nigeria and the UAE. They communicated continuously for two months to close this case successfully.”
Al Sharifi declared: “Last January, Security Forces received a report from Majed Khamis Majed who lives in Umm Al-Quwain, saying that his brother Mohammad Khamis Majed has passed his expected arrival date from Nigeria. He went for a short visit for two days to finalize a commercial contract. His relatives were not able to communicate with him.”
He added: “A written letter was received by the hostage’s brother, in which the kidnappers asked for a USD 5 million as a ransom and as a condition to release him. They threatened to kill him if the kidnapping was reported to the authorities. The Ministry of Interior did not obey the requests of the criminals, and a taskforce started to put a plan in place to catch the gang whose leader works in Nigeria and lures his victims through assistants who live in different countries.”
The negotiation with the criminals stayed open to give them the illusion of acceptance of their ransom and conditions in order to avoid having the hostage injured. Team members started to make plans with the Nigerian government and other related departments to catch the criminals and free the hostage without injury in accordance with the instructions of the President.
The gang leader was also arrested along with a number of suspects involved in this case in the UAE and Nigeria. Team members were able to free the hostage and arrest the criminals. His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan contacted the hostage’s family by phone to give them the good news; this call brought happiness to the family who were suffering from this matter in particular the victim’s wife and child.
A private jet took off today this afternoon to bring the citizen back home after ensuring a stable medical condition; a team carried out all the necessary medical evaluations.
Major General Al Sharifi appreciated the cooperation efforts and support presented by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Nigeria, in addition to the efforts of the Nigerian Government
