Officers of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued 20 victims in two significant kidnapping attempts in Katsina State.

At about 7 PM on the 7th of December 2024, police operatives of the Katsina State Command intercepted a group of armed bandits along the Katsina-Magamar Jibia road, who had opened fire on a moving vehicle conveying 10 occupants, in an attempt to kidnap the occupants.

According to a statement issued and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, police operatives engaged the armed bandits in a gun duel and successfully overpowered them, forcing the bandits to flee the scene with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, and securing the rescue of all 10 occupants unhurt.

It added that on the same date, at about 8:30 PM, the police operatives attached to the Katsina State Command got information of an ambush of a vehicle conveying 10 passengers along the Funtua-Gusau road by suspected bandits and quickly mobilized to the scene where they engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, overpowering them and rescuing the 10 abducted victims.

Similarly, on the 4th of December 2024, police operatives attached to the Akwa-Ibom State Command successfully rescued a young lady who had been earlier abducted by one Abraham Patrick Francis ‘m’ with the intention of selling off the abductee into forced prostitution in a neighbourin country.

Also, police operatives of the Akwa-Ibom State Command also raided a kidnappers’ den within the Amayam and Ikot Ukpong Villages on the 5th of December 2024, and successfully rescued 2 kidnapped victims unhurt, recovered 1 locally fabricated double barrel gun, 1 locally made pistol, 5 live cartridges, and neutralized 2 suspected kidnappers in a heated gun duel.

In the same vein, on the 4th of December 2024, the Police operatives attached to the Rivers State Command followed up on a report of a kidnapped 10-year-old boy identified as Emmanuel John. Investigation and decisive actions led to the arrest of one Nwile Bete ‘m’ who upon consequent interrogation, confessed to the crime and led the operatives to where the victim was being kept.

Amidst these remarkable achievements, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Commended these gallant operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and urged them to further intensify their good efforts in this festive season.

The IGP further assured the good citizens of Nigeria of intensive security measures during this period to ensure efficient safety and protection of lives and properties.