Gunmen Release Abducted Presidential Fleet Commander’s Baby

San Francisco, Jan 17, (THEWILL) – President Yar’Adua’s Chief pilot and Commander of the Presidential fleet, Air Commodore Adamu Aminu was not a very happy man when he heard reports that his four-month-old son was kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday in Abuja. Thankfully, the baby was released before midnight after an alleged ransom sum, which THEWILL has not been able to confirm, was paid. They initially wanted N20 million naira.

Family members informed Adamu, who is holed up in Saudi Arabia with the President that their baby, Al-Amin was kidnapped at their Apo Zone D residence while they were performing routine weekend chores.

Though information on the incident is sketchy, THEWILL checks revealed that gunmen stormed the residence on Saturday afternoon in an unmarked Peugeot 505 car pretending to be family members before they suddenly pulled out guns and demanded for cash allegedly brought home by Habiba, the Commander’s wife. Habiba was not at the house when the gunmen arrived. When their search for the cash at the house failed, they took the infant and locked his nanny and a relative in the house before they left.

A few minutes later they put a call through to Habiba and informed her that they had her son warning that if she wanted him back she would have to pay N20 million naira. No information was available on how much was agreed on eventually. The gunmen told her where the exchange would take place and she agreed to meet with them. A few hours later, Habiba went to the location for the exchange and retrieved Al-Amin at about 10 p.m WAT.

The family has notified the police and other security agencies of the incident. The Divisional Police Officer at the Garki police station, Mr. Tony Olofu confirmed the incident but refused to give further details. He said the police are on the trail of the gunmen.