A Nigerian tweep, Ameerah Sufyan with the handle @Ameerah_sufyan, on June 14, 2022, at 6:16 AM, took to Twitter to send a distress message—that she was abducted in Abuja by suspected kidnappers who donned police uniforms.
Ameerah claimed she and 16 others were kidnapped, including three pregnant women and two children. She claimed she was able to tweet and make the public cry because her alleged kidnapper didn’t see her phone. Her tweet went viral with nearly 43,000 retweets.
In her exact words: “Please whoever has my WhatsApp number I sent a broadcast message of my location, we were abducted at gun point by ppl with police uniforms and a van from our houses from different parts of abuja, we’re 17 including 3 pregnant women and two little kids, they didn’t see my phone.”
Ameerah also claimed she had shared a broadcast message of her real-time location on WhatsApp in the tweet.
The Nigerian Twitter community, including celebrities, instantly swung into action, tagging appropriate authorities such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Abuja Police Command and the federal government.
More than two hours later, Ameerah shared an update about her abductors and gave some precise descriptions of the kidnapper’s alleged destinations. She claimed her abductors were four Yoruba men and two Fulani men and the 17 victims, herself inclusive, have all been divided into two with Ilorin and Ibadan or Ikeja as their destination.
“They’re 4 yoruba and two fulani men They divided us up an hour ago we’re 7 here The other vehicle they said they will reach illorin and ours will reach ibadan or ikeja as they said,” Ameerah tweeted at 8:36 AM.
More than 48 hours after, Ameerah’s whereabouts could not be ascertained by security operatives who had promised to track down her abductors and possibly rescue her and the other 16 victims until today when the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja Command claimed it had Ameerah in their custody and she was not missing, contrary to her claims on Twitter.
According to the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Oduniyi Omotayo:
“FCT POLICE FIND MISSING SAFIYANU AMIRA; DEBUNKS THE KIDNAPPING OF 17 OTHERS BY ARMED MEN IN POLICE UNIFORM.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command wishes to categorically debunk the viral news of the alleged kidnapping of one Safiyanu Amira and seventeen (17) others who were reportedly abducted at gunpoint by Armed men in Police uniform on Tuesday 14th June 2022 at about 1:00 pm and to state that Safiyanu Amira is currently safe in Police custody.
While she is currently in the hospital receiving medical attention as demanded by global best practices, the investigation continues and findings will be communicated subsequently.
The Commissioner of Police FCT Command CP Babaji Sunday psc while commending the gallantry of the Tactical and Investigative apparatus detailed on the case, appreciated the members of the public for their calm maintained and the various degrees of useful information given to the Police. He enjoined the good people of the FCT not to relent in partnering with the police, especially towards the rendition of information, to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, While the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352.”