Men of the Niger State Police Command in a joint operation with other security forces have rescued 35 kidnapped victims of suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The victims, who comprised women and children, were said to have been in the captivity of the terrorists for over one year before they were rescued and reunited with their families.
The terrorists were said to have been relocating the victims, said to have been kidnapped from different locations in the State, such as Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin-Pawa, even Taraba state and other areas to Yauri in Kebbi State.
Meanwhile, the bandits were relocating from Birnin-Gwari forest due to security forces’ clearance operations in the area, with their captives, when they were intercepted by the police tactical teams stationed along Madaka-Makujeri road in a vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle, Yusuf Abdullahi of Brinin Gwari, who was conveying the victims to Yauri to hand them over to other members of the terrorist group, at Tegina to board another vehicle to Yauri was arrested.
The victims, including five women and six children, were intercepted in Agwara during an attempt to cross the river to Yauri, Keebi State.
The police recovered 2 magazines and 60 rounds of live ammunition.
The Niger state police command spokesman Wasiu Abiodun who confirmed the rescue in a statement on Monday, said they were transferred to State Police Headquarters, Minna for further investigation.
“Following the reports of suspected bandits relocation from Birnin-Gwari forest due to security forces clearance operations in the area, and from 3rd-5th July, 2025 about twenty-four kidnapped victims, including women and children who were kidnapped over a year from different locations in the State, such as Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin-Pawa, even Taraba and other areas, were relocated to Yauri, Keebi State.
“However, Police tactical teams stationed along Madaka-Makujeri road intercepted most of the victims in a vehicle driven by Yusuf Abdullahi of B/Gwari who was conveying them to Yauri, to hand them over to other members of the group, while others were dropped at Tegina to board another vehicle to Yauri.
“However, the driver was arrested, the victims were rescued and taken to a medical facility for attention before being reunited with their families. Investigation is ongoing with a view to rescue other victims from the hoodlums and to also effect arrest.
“Similarly, on 4th July, 2025 at about 4.30pm, other victims who were comprised of five women and six children were intercepted in Agwara during an attempt to cross the river to Yauri, Keebi State. DPO Agwara Div took custody of them, two magazines and sixty rounds of live ammunition were recovered. They were transferred to State Police Headquarters, Minna, for further investigation,” Abiodun said.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, commended the efforts of the joint security teams for rescue and urged members of the public to provide actionable information to the security agencies towards ensuring that other victims were rescued successfully.
