The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers who were reportedly abducted by armed men and taken into a mountainous cave in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.
The victims were travelling in commercial vehicles when they were intercepted by gunmen at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
This was confirmed by the Kaduna State Police Command on Friday, with reports indicating that the victims were taken into the forest and concealed in a cave located within a mountainous area.
The rescue operation followed timely information supplied by the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Police spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the command received the information at about 5:30pm on Wednesday that travellers had been intercepted by armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons.
Hassan said the information prompted the immediate deployment of operatives from the Birnin Gwari Area Command to the location.
He explained that the police team moved towards the suspected hideout after receiving the report and encountered the abductors.
The arrival of the armed police operatives forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding area.
The 75 victims were subsequently rescued without injuries, the police said.
The police spokesman said the successful operation demonstrated the importance of prompt information-sharing between residents, transport operators and security agencies in responding to kidnapping incidents.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the NURTW leadership in Birnin Gwari for providing what he described as crucial information that enabled security personnel to respond quickly.
He also praised the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his officers for their swift response to the distress report.
The Kaduna State Police Command has urged residents and transport operators to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the authorities.
The command said timely intelligence remains essential in preventing kidnappings and other criminal activities, particularly in vulnerable areas.
It also encouraged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies rather than confront suspected criminals themselves.
