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State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), successfully rescued 17 victims who had been abducted on 3rd March 2025 from Sarkin Pawa, Niger State.
Teams from the Kaduna State Police Command and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have successfully apprehended three armed robbers, freed 17 hostages, and seized 21 fake AK-47 firearms.
According to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, who made the announcement on Thursday, April 10, 2025, three armed robbers were also apprehended by police officers while they were on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
The statement read. “In line with the operational directives and strategic vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, geared towards tackling violent crimes, dismantling criminal networks, and enhancing public safety across the country, the Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant breakthroughs in recent operations conducted in Kaduna State.
“On 9th April 2025, in a remarkable feat of inter-agency collaboration and strategic intelligence deployment, operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), successfully rescued 17 victims who had been abducted on 3rd March 2025 from Sarkin Pawa, Niger State.
“This operation, notably achieved through a non-kinetic approach, evidences the commitment of the IGP to leveraging intelligence-led policing and inter-agency synergy to address security challenges.”
- The victims include: Williams Ubadia (15-year-old)
- Samuel Ezekiel (15-year-old)
- Duza Ezekiel (13-year-old)
- Ishaku Ishaya (12-year-old)
- Sunday Ezekiel
- Jessy Friday (6-year-old)
- Rebecca Ezekiel (32-year-old)
- Jummai Ishaya(32-year-old)
- Terriza Friday (30-year-old)
- Alice Ezekiel (35-year-old)
- Victoria Ishaya (32-year-old)
- Blessing Ezekiel (20-year-old)
- Gloria Ubadia (13-year-old)
- Gift Ubadia (10-year-old)
- Charity Ezekiel (9-year-old)
- Alheri Ishaya (5-year-old)
- Favour Ezekiel (1-year-old)
All rescued victims were immediately transferred to the Kaduna Police Clinic for medical testing and declared healthy.
Same day, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit apprehended a commercial Volkswagen Sharan at Kawo Central Motor Park in Kaduna, based on valid intelligence. After a thorough investigation, officers found 21 fabricated AK-47 firearms in the vehicle.
Jamilu Suleiman, 27, of Rafin Guza, Kaduna, was detained and now in custody. In preliminary interrogation, the suspect admitted that a union member ordered him to deliver the firearms to an unidentified Kaduna resident. A full-scale investigation has been initiated to dismantle the arms trafficking network and prosecute all those involved.
At about 0500hrs on April 9, 2025, a Good Samaritan called the Police Command to report an armed robbery at Doggi Farm on the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.
The Tafa Division’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO) immediately sent a patrol unit to the location. There was a heavy gunfight when they arrived with a band of thirty armed robbers who had earlier stormed the premises. A gunfight ensued, which killed two out of the criminals and sent the others running for the hills.
The Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Hospital in Sabon Wuse was notified about the two other suspects who were wounded and subsequently sent there for medical attention. One of them has already been pronounced dead, but thankfully the other is still with us and is helping the police with their investigation.
The fugitives from the gang are currently the target of continuing efforts to capture them.