KADUNA
Amidst the escalating wave of kidnapping and banditry ravaging the Northwest region, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have recorded a major victory, intercepting a group of bandits and rescuing 76 children in Kaduna State.
The operation, which underscores the growing audacity of armed groups targeting vulnerable citizens, occurred on January 5, 2026, in the Kasuwan Magani area. In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the police team engaged the bandits in a tactical confrontation, successfully repelling the attack and securing the release of the victims, aged between seven and 20, without a single casualty.
Security experts have recently flagged the Northwest as a hotbed for violent crimes, where bandits frequently barricade highways to mass-abduct travelers. This incident in Kasuwan Magani validates these concerns, as the swift police intervention prevented what could have been another mass abduction tragedy involving dozens of minors.
The response was triggered by credible intelligence received by the Kaduna State Police Command around 8:00 PM on the day of the incident. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kasuwan Magani Division led the mobilization, intercepting the bandits who were targeting motorists to abduct the children.
Three suspects: Jonathan John (25), Oliver Magaji (27), and Bitrus Sawaba (23) were apprehended during the raid. They are currently in custody at the Command Headquarters, where the rescued children are also being sheltered while authorities work to locate their parents.
CSP Hundeyin reiterated the Force’s commitment to curbing the rising tide of insecurity, noting that investigations are expanding to track down other members of the bandit gang involved in this failed operation.
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