The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 75 men, women and children abducted by armed kidnappers in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The victims were reportedly travelling in commercial buses when armed men intercepted them at about 5:30 p.m. on August 19, 2026, around Folwaya Village near Birnin Gwari.
The attackers, said to be armed with AK-47 rifles and other weapons, allegedly forced the passengers into a nearby forest and confined them inside a cave in a mountainous area.
The rescue operation followed credible intelligence provided by the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
Acting on the information, a specially deployed team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command moved into the suspected location.
The police reportedly launched an operation that forced the kidnappers to flee, abandoning their captives.
All 75 victims were subsequently rescued without injuries.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the NURTW branch for providing the intelligence that facilitated the operation.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between security agencies and members of the public in preventing kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The commissioner also commended the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his personnel for their swift response.
Muhammad urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
He warned against vigilante actions and retaliatory attacks, saying such measures could worsen insecurity and endanger innocent people.
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