Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, working in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Army Guards Brigade, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes, have successfully rescued twenty kidnapped victims during a coordinated forest operation.
The operation, carried out between March 6 and March 7, 2026, followed credible intelligence indicating that suspected kidnappers fleeing security pressure in Gauraka Forest, Niger State, had moved into Gidan Dogo and Kweri forests in Kaduna State with their captives.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led a joint tactical team into the forest to track the suspects and rescue the victims.
Security sources disclosed that as the operatives approached the kidnappers’ hideout, the criminals opened fire on the advancing team, triggering a fierce gun battle that lasted for more than one hour and thirty minutes. The security operatives, however, overpowered the suspects through superior tactics and firepower.
Several members of the gang were neutralised during the exchange of gunfire, while two suspects identified as Nura Sani and Abdul Bello were arrested. Other members of the group reportedly escaped into the surrounding forest and hills with gunshot wounds.
The operation led to the safe rescue of 20 kidnapped victims, comprising ten males and ten females. The victims were earlier abducted from Byazhin District in the FCT as well as Gauraka and Tafa areas of Niger State.
Security operatives also recovered one AK-47 rifle with breech number 90-17147, a magazine loaded with twenty rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and a locally made firearm from the suspects.
The rescued victims were immediately taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
Meanwhile, the police command has appealed to members of the media and social media users to exercise caution and patience when reporting sensitive security incidents such as kidnappings or ongoing rescue operations. According to the command, the premature dissemination of unverified information could jeopardize the safety of victims and compromise ongoing security missions.
