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 were travelling in commercial buses when gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons reportedly intercepted them at about 5:30pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
According to the Kaduna police, the abductors took the travellers into a forest and concealed them inside a cave in a mountainous area.
Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the rescue followed credible information provided by the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
A crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was deployed after receiving the information. The arrival of the police operatives reportedly forced the kidnappers to flee, leaving the captives behind.
The 75 victims were subsequently rescued unharmed, while items were recovered during the operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the NURTW branch for providing what he described as timely and vital information that enabled the police to respond swiftly.
He also praised the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his officers for their response to the distress call.
Muhammad urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies. He also warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, saying such actions could endanger innocent lives.
Birnin Gwari has faced persistent security challenges, including kidnapping, armed banditry and attacks on rural communities and travellers. Its location along routes linking Kaduna with neighbouring parts of Niger State has also left some roads and communities vulnerable to criminal groups operating in forested areas.
