The Nigeria Police Force said it has rescued a total of 16 victims of human trafficking and kidnapping across the country in an ongoing effort to strengthen national security and curb crimes and criminality.
The force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this is in furtherance of the IGP’s directive on the due implementation of the Police’s action plan for the year 2025.
He said police operatives attached to the Kaduna State Command, on January 31, 2025, at about 7 pm, apprehended three persons identified as Samson Peter, aged 25 years, Haruna Duniya, aged 45 years, and Abdulazaq Olawole, aged 58 years while trafficking 13 victims to Oyo State in an unmarked vehicle.
He said the victims were rescued, and the investigation into the issue is still ongoing.
Similarly, on January 29, 2025, police operatives of the Ogun State Command carried out a covert operation and located the den of kidnappers responsible for an earlier reported abduction on January 25, 2025.
The police said, “Upon sighting the operatives, the gang engaged its operatives in a gun duel. The confrontation led to the neutralisation of five members of the gang and the successful rescue of the three kidnapped victims, with the recovery of some arms and ammunition of various calibres.”
The force PRO further revealed that “three mobile phones and the cash sum of N5.2 million and the vehicles of the kidnapped victims were all recovered.”
Meanwhile, the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has commended the operatives for their gallantry, dedication to duty, and patriotism.
The IGP further encouraged all police officers to remain relentless in their pursuit of peace and reassured members of the public that the Police Force remains committed to effectively combatting all security threats.
