The military and combined efforts of the security operatives have rescued 76 commuters kidnapped by bandits along the Funtua-Zaria road at the Gulbala area in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to a press statement signed and issued to newsmen by the Kaduna State Police Public Relations, DSP Mohammed Jalige the victims were rescued on Friday last week.
DSP Jaliga explained that the Police Divisional Headquarters, Giwa, received distress calls that a large number of bandits wielding sophisticated weapons had blocked some sections of the Funtua-Zaria road to abduct innocent commuters.
The statement noted that police and military operatives were immediately mobilised to the location to dismantle the road blockade and fish out the armed terrorists and rescue any victim they might have kidnapped on the operation.
“On reaching the location, a Ford open truck with Registration number APP 667 XG was found without passengers and information garnered indicated that a large number of passengers on the truck had been moved off the road by the bandits”
Jaliga further explained that immediately, a rescue operation by the operatives was conducted in the forest where the bandits were encountered, pointing out that pressure was mounted on the bandits by the security operatives, and they were forced to abandon their nefarious activities and subsequently fled into the forest.
“Thorough combing of the forest was made for over several hours by the security operatives who succeeded in the rescue of seventy-six kidnapping victims comprising males and females of different ages.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims who were commuters on the truck were travelling from Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State to various destinations when they were abducted by the kidnappers.”
The Kaduna State police spokesman said security operatives were still on operation within the location to fish out the main truck driver and two other passengers who are yet to be rescued.
He explained that the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Yekini Ayoku said that the security operatives have made a breakthrough through a well-coordinated security network in the state.
