Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have successfully rescued 17 kidnapped victims.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi. According to him, the victims were abducted on March 3, 2025, in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, and were rescued on Wednesday, April 9, by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Adejobi noted that the operation, carried out through a non-kinetic approach, underscores the dedication of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intelligence-driven policing and enhanced inter-agency cooperation in tackling security challenges.
Following their rescue, all victims were taken to the police clinic in Kaduna for medical evaluation and were confirmed to be in stable condition.
In a related development, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended a suspected arms trafficker at Kawo Motor Park in Kaduna North Local Government Area.
During the operation, 21 fabricated AK-47 rifles were recovered, hidden inside a vehicle owned by the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Jamilu Suleiman.
The suspect, now in police custody, reportedly confessed that he was instructed by a union member to deliver the weapons to an unidentified recipient in Kaduna.