Following reports regarding the relocation of suspected bandits from the Birnin-Gwari forest, security operatives in Niger State have successfully rescued approximately twenty-four kidnapped victims, including women and children.
The individuals, who had been held captive for over a year, were abducted from various locations, including Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin-Pawa, and Taraba State, among others.
Intelligence reports indicated that these victims were being transported to Yauri in Kebbi State.
Police tactical teams positioned along the Madaka-Makujeri road successfully intercepted a vehicle carrying a majority of the victims. The vehicle was operated by an individual identified as Yusuf Abdullahi, who hails from Birnin-Gwari and was reportedly transporting the victims to Yauri to hand them over to other members of the criminal organisation.
Some victims had been dropped off in Tegina to board an alternate vehicle heading to Yauri.
The driver was promptly apprehended, while the rescued victims were transported to a medical facility for treatment before being reunited with their families.
An investigation is currently underway to locate and apprehend additional members of the gang and to rescue other victims still in captivity.
In a related incident on July 4, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m., another group comprising five women and six children was intercepted in Agwara while attempting to cross the river into Yauri. The Divisional Police Officer of Agwara Division took custody of the victims. Additionally, two magazines and sixty rounds of live ammunition were confiscated during the operation.
The rescued individuals were subsequently transferred to the State Police Headquarters in Minna for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police for the Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, mnips, commended the concerted efforts of the joint security teams involved in the successful rescue operation.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and actionable intelligence to assist in the rescue of other victims and the apprehension of the perpetrators.