Eight people, including a pregnant woman and an eight-year-old girl, abducted by bandits in Kaduna State, have been rescued by security operatives after spending weeks in captivity.
ln a coordinated operation involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the military, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, the victims were rescued between October 31 and November 2, 2026.
Briefing newsmen at the DSS Command headquarters in Kaduna, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu, explained that among those rescued was 27-year-old Jamila Muhammad, who was abducted on October 6 when bandits attacked Alrahus Estate in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area.
She was kidnapped alongside Ahmad Zakka, his wife and their six-month-old daughter.
While Zakka and members of his family regained their freedom on October 15, following a separate rescue operation, Jamila remained in captivity until the latest operation.
She reportedly lost her pregnancy while being held by the kidnappers.
The other rescued victims were identified as Talatu Yakubu, 40; Yunana Bawa, 30; Calista Bishop, 27; Chidinma Onuwere, 36; Eucharia Obi, 41; Godiya Victor, 50; and eight-year-old Miracle Alex.
Rabiu said, “The rescue operation was part of sustained efforts by security agencies to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for repeated kidnappings in Millennium City and surrounding communities.”
He explained that the area had witnessed recurring abductions, creating security concerns among residents and other stakeholders, saying that the latest breakthrough came barely weeks after security operatives rescued Zakka, his wife and their daughter from the same kidnapping incident.
He commended ONSA for providing strategic coordination, the police for operational support, the DSS for intelligence-driven efforts and the military for its involvement in the operations and also acknowledged the support of the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani, saying collaboration between the state and federal security institutions remained important in tackling kidnapping and banditry.
The commissioner stated that additional security personnel and equipment, including 30 patrol vans and eight armoured personnel carriers, will be deployed to strengthen security operations across the state.
He acknowledged the difficult terrain exploited by criminal groups to evade security forces but assured residents that ongoing operations would be sustained and intensified, saying that the operations reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening national security and protecting lives and property through improved coordination among security and intelligence agencies.
He assured residents that security agencies were working to dismantle kidnapping and banditry networks across Kaduna State.
