By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued 23 kidnap victims in separate operations across Niger and Enugu states, as part of ongoing efforts to combat crime and insecurity across the country.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. He said the operations followed recent kidnapping incidents in the affected areas.
In Niger State, police swung into action following an attack on Hayin-Dogo and Dangunu villages in Sarkin-Pawa, Munya Local Government Area, where one Usman Daina and four others were abducted. While Daina was released after two days in captivity, intensified efforts by the police and other security operatives led to the rescue of the remaining victims – Deborah Daina, Gambo Amos, Cyprus Titus, and Satti Iko – on May 22, 2025. All rescued individuals have since been reunited with their families.
Similarly, in Enugu State, police operatives attached to the state command carried out multiple rescue operations targeting kidnap syndicates in forested areas.
According to Adejobi, a coordinated operation in the Uvuru-Ukpata forest in Uzo-Uwani LGA, following the abduction of commuters along the Olo-Umulokpa Road, resulted in a gun battle with the kidnappers. Nine victims were rescued unhurt. Prior to this, two other victims kidnapped on May 16 in the Ezimo community were rescued from a forest in Amalla-Egazi.
In another operation on May 23, Enugu State police operatives, in collaboration with local security outfits, stormed a forest along the Enugu-Kogi border while trailing a kidnap gang. During the ensuing gunfight, one kidnapper was neutralized while others escaped with gunshot wounds. Eight victims were safely rescued.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the bravery and professionalism of the officers involved. He also praised the collaboration with local security outfits and public support, which he said were instrumental in the success of the operations.
The IGP reaffirmed the Police Force’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that Nigeria remains an unsafe haven for perpetrators of crime.
