The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers who were allegedly kidnapped by suspected bandits and held captive inside a cave near Folwaya Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The victims, comprising men, women and children, were reportedly travelling in commercial vehicles when armed men intercepted them and took them into the surrounding forest.
According to the Kaduna State Police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, the rescue operation was launched after the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) alerted the authorities.
The incident reportedly occurred around 5:30pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Hassan said officers from the Birnin Gwari Area Command were immediately deployed to the location after receiving the information.
“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 said.
“On sighting the well-armed police operatives, the abductors fled, abandoning their captives, who were successfully rescued unharmed,” Hassan added.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the NURTW officials for providing “timely and vital information” that enabled security operatives to respond promptly.
He also praised the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his team for their “swift and professional response” during the operation.
The police appealed to residents to remain alert and provide security agencies with relevant information to support efforts to prevent kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.
BACKSTORY:
The rescue comes amid continued security concerns in parts of Kaduna State, particularly the Birnin Gwari axis, which has faced incidents of kidnapping and armed attacks.
According to the Kaduna State Police Command, the latest incident occurred on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, when armed men allegedly intercepted commercial vehicles near Folwaya Village and took 75 passengers into the forest.
The victims were reportedly held in a cave until police operatives arrived following information from the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The suspected abductors reportedly fled after sighting the approaching security personnel, leaving the travellers behind.
All 75 victims were rescued unharmed, while the police urged residents and transport workers to continue providing timely information that could help security agencies prevent further attacks and kidnappings.
