Niger State Police Command has successfully reunited thirty-five victims of kidnapping, comprising sixteen women and nineteen children, with their families after weeks in protective custody.
The victims were rescued from various hideouts across Kagara, Tegina, and Agwara areas.
The official handover ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Investigation, DCP Ibrahim Adamu, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman. The event took place at the police command headquarters in Dutsen Kura, Minna, where the victims were formally handed over to the Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Ayuba Katako.
CP Elleman, through his representative, noted that the victims had been receiving care and support from both the Police and the Niger State Government during their time in custody. He disclosed that the rescue operation began on July 3, 2025, following intelligence reports that bandits were relocating from Birnin-Gwari with kidnapped victims to new hideouts.
Acting swiftly, police operatives intercepted the first batch—five women and six children—in Agwara while attempting to cross a river to New-Bussa. A second group comprising four women and seven children was intercepted along the Mekujeri–Tegina road.
Another batch was later rescued from a vehicle driven by one Yusuf Abdullahi of Birnin-Gwari, who is currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for possible complicity.