Police Rescue 75 Kidnapped Victims in Kaduna
By Zagazola Makama
The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 kidnapped victims after armed men abducted a group of men, women and children travelling in commercial buses near Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, reportedly all members of the Fulani community, were abducted at about 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Folwaya village, near Birnin Gwari, according to information received from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Birnin Gwari branch.
The abductors, armed with AK-47 rifles and other weapons, reportedly intercepted the commercial buses and forced the passengers into the surrounding forest.
The victims were subsequently taken into a mountainous area and concealed in a cave.
Following the report, a police crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was immediately mobilised to the location.
Security sources said the operatives, who were heavily armed, advanced into the area and confronted the kidnappers.
On sighting the approaching police team, the abductors reportedly fled into the surrounding forest, abandoning the captives.
The 75 victims were subsequently rescued unharmed and taken to safety.
The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the NURTW Birnin Gwari branch for providing timely information that enabled the security forces to respond swiftly.
He also praised the Area Commander, Birnin Gwari, and his personnel for their prompt and professional response, which led to the successful rescue of the victims.
The Commissioner urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the police and other security agencies.
He also cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands, warning that such actions could result in the loss of innocent lives.
The rescue comes amid sustained security operations in the Birnin Gwari axis, one of the areas affected by kidnapping and other criminal activities in Kaduna State.
Security agencies have continued to rely on community-based intelligence and rapid response operations to disrupt kidnapping networks and rescue victims held in remote forest and mountainous locations.
