A COMBINED team of security operatives in Zamfara State has rescued three family members of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Mohammed Abubakar Nakwada, nearly two weeks after they were abducted by suspected kidnappers, News Point Nigeria gathered.
The victims, identified as Sadiya Nakwada, Aisha Nakwada, and Abubakar Dan Fulani were taken hostage on July 27, 2025 by armed men in Gusau, the state capital.
Confirming the development, security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, said the rescue operation was the result of a coordinated effort between the Zamfara State Police Command’s tactical units and the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad (FID STS) from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Makama disclosed in a post on Sunday that operatives moved in on the kidnappers’ hideout after a series of intelligence-driven surveillance activities pinpointed their location in the Mareri area of Damba District, Gusau Local Government Area.
“Five suspects linked to the abduction were apprehended without a single shot being fired, ensuring the safety of the victims,” he said.
The suspects; Hamza Umar, Abubakar Abdullahi, Aisha Umar, Mohammed Ibrahim, and Igeh Mohammed, are all residents of the Mareri area and are currently in police custody for interrogation.
Sources familiar with the case told News Point Nigeria that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom running into millions of naira before the security agencies intervened.
However, authorities have not confirmed whether any ransom was paid before the rescue.
Upon their release, the victims were immediately taken to a medical facility in Gusau for comprehensive checks and treatment.
Police sources say they are in stable condition and will be reunited with their family after clearance from medical officials.
The successful rescue comes amid renewed security operations in Zamfara State, which has been plagued by repeated banditry and kidnapping incidents in recent months.
The state government has repeatedly pledged to work with federal security agencies to dismantle criminal networks operating in rural and urban areas.
In his reaction, a senior police officer, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak publicly, told News Point Nigeria that the synergy between local police units and the Abuja-based tactical squad, describing it as “a model for future operations against organized kidnapping rings.”
The police are expected to issue a formal statement detailing the next steps in the investigation, with the suspects likely to face charges ranging from conspiracy to kidnapping and unlawful detention.