The Nigeria Police Force announced on Sunday that 10 individuals were rescued from an attempted abduction by suspected bandits along the Funtua-Gusau highway.
According to the Force, the rescue was carried out by officers from the Faskari Division of the Katsina State Police Command, who responded swiftly and engaged the assailants in a gunfight. The suspects fled with gunshot wounds, leaving the victims—two drivers and eight passengers—unharmed.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated:
“On April 19, 2025, around 9:35 pm, following intelligence, our operatives successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt on the Funtua-Gusau highway. The bandits were repelled after a fierce exchange of gunfire, resulting in the safe recovery of all 10 victims.”
Wanted Criminal Arrested, Stolen Police Rifle Recovered
In a separate operation, 40-year-old Umar Ahmad, a notorious suspect wanted for months, was apprehended at a checkpoint in Jalingo on April 18 by the State Intelligence Department in collaboration with local vigilantes.
Further investigation led police to Mayo Faran Village on the Taraba–Adamawa border, where a search operation uncovered two AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, and 39 rounds of ammunition. One of the recovered weapons had been stolen during a 2023 ambush in which ASP Aminu Nuhu was killed.
Weapons Discovered in Bus and Residence in Anambra
On April 17, officers from Fegge Division in Anambra State, while patrolling Upper Iweka, Onitsha, intercepted a suspicious shuttle bus parked along Port Harcourt Road. A search revealed five pump-action rifles, eight live cartridges, and two handcuffs hidden in a bag of rice. The bus is under forensic examination, and investigations are ongoing to trace the suspects.
That same day, police arrested 25-year-old Israel Akachukwu at his residence in Nkpor, Idemili North LGA. A raid on his home uncovered two pump-action guns, a cutlass, a yellow axe, and a dagger. Akachukwu confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and is assisting police in identifying other gang members.
ACP Adejobi noted these developments highlight the police’s ongoing efforts to strengthen internal security and curb violent crime.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the officers’ swift and professional actions and reaffirmed the Force’s dedication to safeguarding lives and property.
