Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, has successfully reunited 35 rescued kidnapping victims with their families.
The group includes 16 women and 19 children who were abducted from the Kagara, Tegina, and Agwara areas of the state.
Speaking during a brief handover ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation, Ibrahim Adamu, stated that the victims were released after spending several weeks in police protective custody.
The CP, who handed the rescued victims to the chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Ayuba Usman Katako, noted, “The victims will be reunited with their families as they have been under police protective custody with necessary support and care from the state government.
“Series of counselling and deradicalization processes were given to them, with foods and bedding. And having gotten the necessary clearance, the victims are hereby handed over to the council chairman and relatives.”
Elleman further explained how the victims were rescued.
“Police operatives swung into action and the first batch was intercepted in Agwara during an attempt to cross the river to other villages of New-Bussa, and five women and six children were rescued.
“During interrogation, it was stated that bandits were relocating from Birnin-Gwari to other areas and the police tactical team stationed at Mekujeri-Tegina road intercepted the second batch with four women and seven children, while another batch was also intercepted with a driver transporting them away.”
The CP appealed to members of the public to give actionable information to the police whenever issues are observed for quick intervention.
