Nigerian Air Force, NAF,  Special Forces,SF has  rescued twenty six kidnapped victims along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road while on a fighting patrol.

The Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet who disclosed this in a press statement in Abuja said the rescue operation occurred when the SF came across five abandoned vehicles with their doors ajar near Anguwar Yako, an indication of forced removal or evacuation and likely kidnap scene.

Acting on instincts, the SF began exploiting the general scene of the abduction and extended for about 3 kilometres radius well into the bushes while clearing the general area.

The statement said upon sighting the SF, about three suspected kidnapped escapees suddenly came out from the bushes which led to further search by the SF and discovery of four different groups of victims hiding in the bushes.

It said, after a thorough search further into the hinterland, a total of twenty six victims were rescued. 

On interrogation, the victims who were traveling from Birnin Gwari to various locations including Kaduna, Minna and Kano, revealed that while enroute, large number of bandits in three groups suddenly appeared from the bushes from three different directions along the route and surrounded their vehicles.

However, on sighting the SF, the kidnappers fled into the bushes with a handful of the victims while the other majority took cover and hid in the bushes until they sighted the SF.

The statement concluded that NAF SF have extended their operations within the area with the hope of rescuing the remaining kidnapped victims while those rescued have since been moved to the 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna for thorough medical examination.