75 travellers rescued from bandits’ cave in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers who were allegedly abducted by suspected bandits and held in a cave near Folwaya Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

The victims, including men, women and children, were travelling in commercial vehicles when they were intercepted by armed men and taken into the forest.

Police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the rescue followed information provided by the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The incident occurred at about 5:30 pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Hassan said police officers from the Birnin Gwari Area Command were quickly deployed to the area after receiving the report.

“The Kaduna State Police Command received credible information from the NURTW, Birnin Gwari Branch, that some Fulani men, women, and children travelling in commercial buses were abducted by unknown armed men wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari,” he said.

“On sighting the well-armed police operatives, the abductors fled, abandoning their captives, who were successfully rescued unharmed,” Hassan added.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, praised the NURTW branch for providing “timely and vital information” that helped the police respond quickly.

He also commended the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his team for their “swift and professional response” to the incident.

The police urged residents to remain vigilant and share useful information with security agencies to help prevent kidnappings and other attacks in the state.