Police Rescue 75 Kidnapped Travellers Held In Mountain Cave

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kaduna State Police Command on Friday, August 21, 2026, announced the rescue of 75 travelers were abducted by gunmen ,and held in a cave in a mountain  within Folwaya Community in Birnin Gwari local council of the state.

In a statement by Mansir Hassan, its spokesperson, the  police authorities said the victims, mostly Fulani men, women and children, were traveling in multiple commercial buses when they were ambushed and whisked away by several  armed men in Folwaya Village, Birnin Gwari at about 5:30 pm on Wednesday , August 19, 2026.

However, their rescue was sequel to intelligence-driven operations conducted by operatives between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

According to the statement, actionable information was received by the police from the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, which led the  operatives to storm the cave situated inside a mountain within Folwaya Village.

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

Following the receipt of the intelligence, the Police stated that operatives were mobilised and deployed to the mountain area.

However, the armed men on sighting operatives fled, and abandoned  their victims.

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

The State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, lauded the Birnin Gwari branch of  NURTW for providing timely and credible information which aided the operatives in their rescue efforts.

While commending officers for their swift and professional response, he called on residents to always remind vigilant, and volunteer useful information to assist security agencies in adequately protecting lives and properties of the people.