BTvNEWS

Abductors Flee into Forest as Police Crack Team Storms Mountainous Hideout; CP Rabiu Muhammad Commends NURTW for Timely Intelligence

By AbdulHakeem Mutiu Adejumo-Ajeseku Kaduna, Northwest – Nigeria

BTvNEWS: The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 kidnapped victims after armed men reportedly abducted them at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State. The victims, comprising men, women and children travelling in commercial buses, were rescued unharmed following a swift police intervention.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m., when the Command received credible information from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Birnin Gwari Branch, that unknown armed men, allegedly wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons, had intercepted and abducted the passengers at Folwaya Village.

According to the Kaduna State Police Command, the abductors subsequently took the victims deep into the forest and concealed them inside a cave located within a mountainous area.

The distress information prompted an immediate security response as the Command moved to secure the release of the captives.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, ANIPR, disclosed that a crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was immediately deployed to the reported location upon receipt of the intelligence.

The operation yielded a significant breakthrough when the police operatives arrived at the area and the abductors sighted the well-armed security team.

The suspected kidnappers reportedly fled into the surrounding forest, abandoning their captives, who were subsequently rescued alive and unharmed.

The development represents another intelligence-led intervention by the Kaduna State Police Command in its ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

The Command has repeatedly emphasized the importance of timely information from residents and community stakeholders in enabling security operatives to respond effectively to criminal threats.

The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Rabiu Muhammad, psc, mni, commended the NURTW, Birnin Gwari Branch, for providing the timely and vital information that facilitated the successful rescue operation.

The CP also applauded the Area Commander, Birnin Gwari, and his operatives for their swift, professional and courageous response.

CP Rabiu Muhammad urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements, persons or activities to the Police.

He further cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that resorting to self-help could result in the loss of innocent lives and undermine ongoing efforts to safeguard communities across Kaduna State.

The Command’s continued public appeals similarly emphasize timely intelligence-sharing as crucial to tackling kidnapping networks.