Jane Salihu
The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 passengers who were abducted by armed men while travelling in commercial buses along the Birnin Gwari axis of the state.
The victims, comprising men, women and children, were reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari, after the assailants intercepted the buses and forced the passengers into a forest.
The Police Command said the victims were subsequently concealed in a cave located within a mountainous area.
According to the Command, the rescue operation followed timely intelligence provided by the Birnin Gwari Branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which alerted the Police to the incident.
Acting on the information, a crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was immediately deployed to the location.
The Police said the armed kidnappers fled into the forest upon sighting the approaching operatives, abandoning all 75 captives, who were rescued unharmed.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Rabiu Muhammad, psc, mni, commended the NURTW branch for its prompt response, describing the information as vital to the successful rescue operation.
He also praised the Area Commander, Birnin Gwari, and his operatives for their swift and professional intervention.
The CP urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the Police, stressing that timely intelligence could make a critical difference in preventing loss of lives and rescuing victims.
He further cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, warning that such actions could worsen security situations and endanger innocent persons.
The successful operation, according to the Police, underscores the importance of community-based intelligence and rapid security response in tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities in vulnerable areas.
