Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued three kidnap victims who spent more than 40 days in captivity and arrested five suspected informants believed to have provided intelligence and logistical support to the kidnappers.
The rescue operation was announced on Friday night, June 5, 2026, in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Command, DSP Mansir Hassan. According to the police, the operation was carried out by officers attached to the Fushin Kada Division in collaboration with personnel from the Hunkuyi Division following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
The victims rescued during the operation were identified as Ekechikwu Omale, Ummi Salisu, both from Kudan Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and Pastor Daniel Tanko Bawa from Tufa Village in Niger State. Police said all three victims had been held by their abductors for more than 40 days before regaining their freedom.
According to the statement, security operatives traced the kidnappers to a suspected hideout after receiving actionable intelligence. The police said a coordinated operation was subsequently launched against the location. Upon sighting the advancing security team, the kidnappers reportedly fled the area, abandoning the victims who were later secured and evacuated by the operatives.
The rescued victims were immediately taken to a police medical facility for examination and treatment before being reunited with their families. Authorities stated that the victims were rescued unharmed despite spending several weeks in captivity.
The command also disclosed that investigations conducted during and after the rescue operation led to the arrest of five suspected informants believed to be connected to the kidnapping syndicate. According to police findings, the suspects allegedly supplied information and logistical assistance that aided the abduction and prolonged captivity of the victims.
Police investigators said preliminary interrogations resulted in confessional statements from the suspects regarding their alleged involvement in the crime. However, authorities did not immediately release the identities of the arrested individuals as investigations continue.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the officers involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a result of professionalism, persistence, and cooperation among security personnel. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to combating kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes across the state.
The latest rescue comes amid ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle kidnapping networks operating across Kaduna State and parts of northwestern Nigeria. Security experts have repeatedly identified local informants as a major factor aiding criminal groups, often providing information on victims' movements, residences, and daily activities.
Kaduna State has remained one of the regions most affected by kidnapping-for-ransom activities in recent years, prompting increased collaboration between police, military formations, intelligence agencies, and local communities. Authorities have continued to urge residents to provide timely and credible information capable of preventing attacks and assisting ongoing investigations.
Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the kidnapping network who escaped during the operation. Investigators are also working to uncover the full extent of the syndicate's activities and determine whether the group is linked to other abduction cases within Kaduna State and neighbouring communities.
At the time of reporting, the rescued victims had been reunited with their families, while the five suspects remained in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations and possible prosecution.
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