By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The police have rescued 35 people kidnapped by bandits over a year ago in Niger state while being moved to Yauri in Kebbi state.
The bandits were reported to be relocating from Birnin-Gwari forest due to security forces clearance operations in the area, between 3rd-5th July, 2025 before they were intercepted in Niger state by the police.
In a statement issued in Minna, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the report, adding that, ” those rescued included women and Children “.
He said, “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 relocating to Yauri, Kebbi 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 other were dropped at Tegina to board another vehicle to Yauri”.
According to him, ” 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, Kebbi State. DPO Agwara Div took custody of them”.
SP Abiodun said that two magazines and sixty rounds of live ammunition were recovered at the scene, adding that they have been transferred to State Police Headquarters, Minna for further investigation.
He said that the victims were rescued and taken to a medical facility for attention before being reunited with their families, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, commended the efforts of the joint security teams for such rescue and urged the public to provide actionable information to the security agencies towards ensuring that other victims are rescued successfully.
