Police Rescue 75 Kidnapped Travellers in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers, including men, women, and children, who were abducted by armed men near Folwaya Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

The victims, travelling in commercial buses, were reportedly seized by gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles and taken into a forest where they were hidden in a cave.

Police spokesman Mansir Hassan said the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, around 5:30 p.m.

He explained that the command received credible information from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Birnin Gwari branch, which enabled a swift response.

“On sighting the well-armed police operatives, the abductors fled, abandoning their captives, who were successfully rescued unharmed,” Hassan stated.

Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad commended the NURTW for providing timely intelligence and praised the Area Commander and his team for their professional response.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, cautioning against self-help measures that could worsen insecurity.

Birnin Gwari, one of Kaduna’s largest local government areas, has long struggled with banditry and kidnappings due to its location along routes linking Kaduna with Niger State, making travellers and rural communities vulnerable to attacks.

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