Police rescue 13 kidnapped passengers in Otukpo forest, kill one suspect

In Kaduna State, police have successfully rescued 75 abducted travellers, comprising men, women, and children, who were kidnapped near Folwaya Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. Identified as Fulani travellers, the victims were taken while travelling in commercial buses, according to a statement from the police's spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan.

The incident occurred on August 19 around 5:30pm, following credible information provided by the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The kidnappers, armed with AK-47 rifles and other advanced weapons, had taken the victims into the forest and concealed them in a cave within a mountainous area.

Upon receiving the information, a specialized team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command was swiftly deployed to the location. The kidnappers fled upon encountering the well-equipped police, leaving the victims unharmed. Kaduna State's Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, praised the timely intelligence shared by the NURTW and the Birnin Gwari Area Commander, commending their professional response.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police, while cautioning against vigilante justice, which could lead to the loss of innocent lives.