In a dramatic breakthrough on July 3–5, Niger State police executed a high-stakes rescue operation that freed 35 kidnapped victims—including women and children—who had been held captive for more than a year.
The captives, abducted at different times from communities across the region (Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin‑Pawa, even as far as Taraba State), were loaded into a vehicle bound for Yauri, Kebbi State—until courageous police tactical teams intercepted the convoy on the Madaka–Makujeri road.
The kidnappers had planned to transfer the victims deeper into bandit territory, but authorities pounced just in time, arresting the driver and delivering salvation to the hostages. Additional victims—comprising five women and six children—were also intercepted in Agwara as they tried to cross a river in the dead of night. Officers seized live ammunition and magazines amidst the dramatic river rescue.
The freed men, women, and children are now in medical care and have begun the emotional journey back to their families in Minna and elsewhere. Authorities acted swiftly, reuniting them with loved ones, while launching a full-scale manhunt to dismantle the network behind the abductions.
Niger State’s Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, lauded the joint security task force for their precision and bravery—and urged local residents to fuel future investigations with crucial intelligence. The dramatic rescue not only shattered a year-long reign of terror but also sent a powerful message: persistence and vigilance can dismantle even the most entrenched kidnapping rings.
