The Taraba State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued 17 passengers travelling along the Wukari highway.
The spokesperson of the command, James Lashan Saminu, disclosed the development in a statement issued to journalists in Taraba on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
He said the incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. on July 12, when suspected armed kidnappers intercepted a white Toyota bus belonging to People’s Choice Company, with registration number 26G-17TR.
The bus, which was conveying passengers from Enugu to Yola, Adamawa State, according to the police, came under attack near the Federal University Wukari.
“On receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Wukari Division, Anthony Jerry, swiftly mobilised a team of police officers and collaborated with nearby military personnel. The security operatives advanced to the scene, causing the kidnappers to flee into the surrounding bushes,” the statement read.
Although one passenger, identified as Sadiq Usman, 22, of Chamba ethnicity, was initially missing, he was later found unharmed after a search operation. All other passengers were rescued safely.
Commending the officers for their swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Bretet Simon, reaffirmed the command’s commitment, in partnership with other security agencies, to tackling kidnapping in the state.
He urged members of the public to continue supporting security efforts by promptly reporting suspicious activities.
