A total of 17 kidnapped victims, including children as young as one year old, have been rescued in Kaduna following a coordinated operation by security forces under the guidance of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The victims had been abducted on March 3, 2025, from Sarkin Fawa in Niger State.
After more than a month of sustained intelligence efforts and pressure from security forces, the kidnappers were compelled to release the victims on April 9 at approximately 4:30 p.m.
According to intelligence sources, the rescued victims include both minors and adults, such as William Ubadia, Samuel Ezekiel, and several children, including Duza Ezekiel (13), Ishaku Ishaya (12), Sunday Ezekiel (8), Jessy Friday (6), Charity Ezekiel (9), and one-year-old Favour Ezekiel. Adults among the victims include Rebecca Ezekiel (32), Jummai Ishaya (32), Alice Ezekiel (35), and Victoria Ishaya (32), among others.
The freed victims were immediately taken to a medical facility in Kaduna for check-ups and were confirmed to be in stable condition.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama shared the news in a post on X on Thursday, confirming the successful operation.
Authorities have assured that the victims will soon be reunited with their families.
