Police Rescue 48 Kidnapped Victims in Kaduna

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command (KSPC) has rescued 48 traders who were abducted on Wednesday by bandits along Birnin Gwari – Kaduna Road.

The traders were traveling in a convoy that was escorted by a police team along the dreaded road when they were abducted bandits who opened fire at them.

However, the Spokesman of the KSPC, Mr. Mohammad Jalige, said yesterday that the victims were rescued by the police.

Jalige said the incident occurred when the traders from Udawa village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were attacked by bandits along the Birnin Gwari – Kaduna Road at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

He said: “On the December 22, 2021, at about 09.30hrs a team of policemen while escorting a convoy of traders from Udawa village in Chikun LGA along Birnin Gwari to Kaduna came under heavy gunshots by armed bandits, which led to the kidnap of a score of persons.

“However, the escort team reinforced themselves and engaged the bandits in a tactical pursuit in order not to harm the victims.

“Thus, the precision approach exhibited by the police officers forced the bandits to retreat and to abandon their victims as they scampered with bloody gunshot wounds.”

He said further that the operatives succeeded in rescuing 48 people to safety and were profiled and subsequently escorted to their destinations safely.

He added that information made available to the command had it that one woman was yet to be accounted for, stressing that effort were being intensified to ensure her safe return.

According to Jalige, “additional manpower will be mobilised to the area to safeguard lives and properties of civilian population in the area.”

He said: “The Commissioner of Police commended the officers for their resilience in the face of danger while serving their fatherland and tasked them to be adequately equipped and alert while embarking on such duties.”