Police Rescue 75 Passengers Abducted By Gunmen In Kaduna

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued 75 kidnapped men, women and children after armed kidnappers abducted them from commercial buses in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The victims, identified as Fulani travellers, were reportedly intercepted on August 19, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m. by gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari.

Force PRO, CSP Anietie Iniedu said in a statement that “the attackers reportedly forced the passengers into the forest, where they concealed them inside a cave located in a mountainous area.

“However, their ordeal came to an end after the Kaduna Police Command received credible information from the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Acting swiftly on the intelligence, a crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was deployed to the suspected location.

“The police operatives, who were reportedly well-armed, stormed the area, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon their captives.
All 75 victims were successfully rescued unharmed.”

Commending the operation, the commissioner of police, Kaduna State Command, CP Rabiu Muhammad praised the NURTW Birnin Gwari branch for its timely and vital intelligence, describing public cooperation as crucial to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The commissioner also commended the Area Commander, Birnin Gwari, and his operatives for their swift, professional and decisive response, which resulted in the safe recovery of the victims.

CP Muhammad urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the police, stressing that timely intelligence could save lives and frustrate criminal operations.

He further warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, cautioning that vigilante actions or reprisals could escalate violence and result in the loss of innocent lives.