Men of the Niger State Police Command, in a joint operation with other security forces, have rescued 35 kidnapped victims from suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The victims, comprising women and children, were said to have been in captivity for over one year.
The terrorists were reportedly relocating the victims—who had been kidnapped from various locations in the state, including Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin-Pawa, Taraba State, and other areas—to Yauri in Kebbi State.
The bandits, who were moving from the Birnin-Gwari forest due to security forces’ clearance operations, were intercepted with their captives by police tactical teams stationed along the Madaka-Makujeri road.
The driver of the vehicle, Yusuf Abdullahi of Birnin Gwari, who was conveying the victims to Yauri to hand them over to other members of the terrorist group, was arrested at Tegina.
Some of the victims had been dropped off to board another vehicle to Yauri.
Additional victims, including five women and six children, were intercepted in Agwara during an attempt to cross the river into Kebbi State.
Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the rescue in a statement and said the victims were transferred to the State Police Headquarters in Minna for further investigation.
“Following the reports of suspected bandits relocating from Birnin-Gwari forest due to security forces’ clearance operations in the area, and from 3rd–5th July 2025, about 24 kidnapped victims, including women and children, who were kidnapped over a year ago from different locations in the state such as Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin-Pawa, even Taraba and other areas, were relocating to Yauri, Kebbi State.
“However, police tactical teams stationed along Madaka-Makujeri road intercepted most of the victims in a vehicle driven by Yusuf Abdullahi of B/Gwari, who was conveying them to Yauri to hand them over to other members of the group, while others were dropped at Tegina to board another vehicle to Yauri.
“The driver was arrested, the victims were rescued, and taken to a medical facility for attention before being reunited with their families.
“The investigation is ongoing with a view to rescuing other victims from the hoodlums and to also effect arrests.
“Similarly, on 4th July 2025 at about 4:30 pm, other victims comprising five women and six children were intercepted in Agwara during an attempt to cross the river to Yauri, Kebbi State.
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