National Security broke new ground recently with a masterclass operation that rescued two women from kidnappers, but the details of the mission are enthralling.
In what could be a perfect script for Hollywood entrepreneurs, the operation cut open an intricate web of the gang to stage one of the most impressive assignments in rescue operations.
Details of the operation, as revealed to the Daily Graphic by inside sources, credit National Security Coordinator, Osman Abdul-Razak, for the successful rescue of the two women.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Abdul-Razak is said to have personally taken charge, issuing a two-week ultimatum to a team that comprised the Criminal Investigations Department, Police Intelligence Directorate, National Signals Bureau, National Intelligence Bureau and the Research Department, who deployed cyber forensics to trace communication footprints to several locations within Ghana and Nigeria to crack the case wide open in a stroke of genius in modern intelligence work.
The daring cross-border operation has since captivated the nation after the two women reunited with their respective families last Friday, as Ghana’s security agencies, under the direct guidance of National Security, rescued them.
The women had been dramatically kidnapped and held for ransom in Nigeria.
They were reportedly lured to Nigeria through a romance scam and subsequently held captive by a criminal syndicate.
The effort of DCOP Abdul-Razak and his team showcased unprecedented coordination between the country’s security agencies and their external partners.
The operation began when a chilling video went viral showing 48-year-old Anastasia Baidoo, half-naked and visibly distressed, pleading for her family to pay a ransom.
The footage, reminiscent of the tragic Takoradi girls’ case, initially sparked fear that history might repeat itself.
“When I saw her in that condition, my heart sank,” said a family member, who reported Anastasia missing after she failed to return from a medical appointment in Hohoe. “We thought we might never see her again.”
The case gained public attention following the circulation of a disturbing video on social media, which showed a young woman tied with a rope and being physically assaulted by unidentified people.
Investigations later confirmed that the woman in the video was a Ghanaian who had been deceived into travelling to Nigeria on the pretext of a romantic relationship.
Upon arrival, however, she was abducted and assaulted, and the footage was sent to her family with a ransom demand.
Days later, a second woman, 38-year-old Evelyn Serwaa Konadu, was kidnapped by the same gang, who demanded a staggering GH₵500,000 ransom.
But this time, the story would have a different ending.
“The criminals were sophisticated but not sophisticated enough,” revealed a security analyst who requested anonymity.
“Our digital analysis confirmed both victims were held at the same location,” the analyst said.
The breakthrough led to a May 1, 2025, rescue operation that freed both women and netted nine suspects — three Nigerians in Port Harcourt in Nigeria, two Nigerians and two Ghanaians in Bolgatanga in Ghana, and one Ghanaian and one Nigerian arrested in Teshie and Ashaiman in Ghana.
For the families, the outcome seemed miraculous.
“We had almost lost hope,” a tearful relative confessed.
“But the speed and professionalism with which the authorities handled this situation has restored our faith in our security services.”
Security experts point to this successful operation as a potential watershed moment for Ghana’s intelligence community.
As one analyst stated: “This case demonstrated how our security apparatus can respond when properly coordinated and resourced.
The collaborative approach between multiple agencies made all the difference”.
As both women recover with their families, their dramatic rescue stands as powerful evidence that with the right leadership and resources, Ghana’s security services can rise to even the most challenging threats, whether they originate at home or beyond the borders.
Police confirm safe return of kidnapped Ghanaian women rescued in Nigeria
Source: GraphicOnline
