The Kebbi State Police Command has successfully rescued six kidnapped victims unhurt in Donko following a fierce gun duel with armed bandits in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of the state.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar.
According to Abubakar, the operation was part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on banditry and other violent crimes across Kebbi State.
He explained that the incident occurred on Saturday, November 2, when about a dozen armed bandits stormed Ukuhu, Tungar Wazga, and Unguwar Chiroma villages, abducting ten residents.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer of Danko led a combined team of policemen and local vigilantes in pursuit of the kidnappers.
“They intercepted the hoodlums at Marina village, near the Zamfara border, and engaged them in a fierce gun duel,” the statement read.
The police said the confrontation forced the bandits to abandon some of their captives and flee into the forest with possible gunshot wounds.
The rescued victims — identified as Abubakar B. Abubakar (25), Nasiru Magawata (18), Abdul Magawata (15), Buhari Ukuhu (17), Kamalu Magawata (12), and Naziru Magawata (11) — have since been reunited with their families after undergoing medical evaluation.
The statement added that search and rescue efforts are ongoing to free the remaining four victims and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Commending the courage of the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, praised the DPO and his team for their swift and professional response.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging residents to continue supporting the police with credible and timely information to help tackle insecurity in the state.
In a related development, the Kwara State Police Command in October rescued one Haruna Ahamadu unhurt from a kidnapper’s den in the Omu-Aran forest, Irepodun Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the rescue followed credible intelligence that led to a coordinated operation by police personnel and local vigilantes.