The Nigeria Police Force has thwarted a planned kidnapping operation in Kaduna State, rescuing 76 children from suspected traffickers in the Kasuwan Magani area.
Police authorities said the successful operation was carried out after actionable intelligence was received on January 5, 2026, indicating that criminal elements were plotting to attack vehicles conveying children through the area.
Confirming the development, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the Kaduna State Police Command acted swiftly once the information was received.
“Upon receipt of the intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer, Kasuwan Magani Division, was promptly mobilised with a team of police personnel to the area,” Hundeyin said.
He noted that the operatives arrived at the scene ahead of the suspects and were able to stop the attack before it could be carried out.
“On arrival, the police team engaged and successfully repelled the suspected attackers, leading to the rescue of seventy-six children, comprising both males and females, aged between seven and twenty years. All the rescued children were unharmed,” he added.
The operation led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Jonathan John, 25; Oliver Magaji, 27; and Bitrus Sawaba, 23.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly transporting the children to various locations across the country for child labour and other domestic-related activities.
“The suspects are currently in police custody, while the rescued children are being kept safely at the Command Headquarters pending the arrival and proper identification of their parents or guardians,” Hundeyin said.
He further disclosed that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and to track down other accomplices involved in the operation.
According to the police spokesman, the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Hundeyin reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding lives and property nationwide.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to the protection of lives and property and urges members of the public to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information,” he said.
The incident comes just days after the Nasarawa State Police Command rescued four abducted children in a separate intelligence-driven operation following reports of their disappearance on December 31, 2025.
