The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers. This group included men, women, and children who were taken by armed men near Folwaya Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The victims were on commercial buses when gunmen with AK-47 rifles attacked them. The kidnappers took them into a forest and hid them in a cave.
The police shared this information in a statement on Friday from their Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan. He said they got a tip-off from the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
Hassan explained that the kidnapping happened around 5:30 PM on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Folwaya Village, close to Birnin Gwari. He said, “The Kaduna State Police Command received credible information from the NURTW, Birnin Gwari Branch, that some Fulani men, women, and children travelling in commercial buses were abducted by unknown armed men wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari.”
He added that the kidnappers took the victims into the forest and hid them in a cave in a mountainous area. “Upon receipt of the information, a crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was immediately deployed to the location,” the police spokesman noted.
Hassan mentioned that when the police arrived, the kidnappers ran away, leaving the victims behind. “On sighting the well-armed police operatives, the abductors fled, abandoning their captives, who were successfully rescued unharmed,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, praised the NURTW for providing what he called “timely and vital information.” This helped the police act quickly.
He also commended the Area Commander, Birnin Gwari, and his team for their “swift and professional response” to the emergency. Muhammad advised the public to stay alert and share any information that could help prevent attacks and kidnappings in the area.
He said, “Members of the public should remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the police.” The commissioner warned against taking the law into their own hands, saying it might worsen the security situation and put innocent lives at risk.
He stated, “Residents are urged not to take the law into their own hands, as such actions could lead to the loss of innocent lives.”
City Round learned that Birnin Gwari is one of the largest local government areas in Kaduna State. It has faced security issues for years, including armed banditry and kidnappings affecting rural communities and travellers.
The area's location along routes that connect Kaduna State with parts of Niger State has made some communities and roads targets for criminals in forested areas. This insecurity has disrupted movement and economic activities, putting residents and travellers at risk of abduction along lonely roads and in rural areas.
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