By Micah Jonah
January 7, 2026
The Nigeria Police Force has foiled an attempted attack and planned kidnapping of children in the Kasuwan Magani area of Kaduna State, rescuing 76 children and arresting three suspects.
Police said the operation followed credible intelligence received at about 8:00pm on January 5, 2026, indicating that suspected bandits were planning to attack motorists conveying children through the area. Acting on the information, the Divisional Police Officer of Kasuwan Magani Division promptly mobilized a team of police personnel to the location.
On arrival, the police team engaged the suspects and successfully repelled the attack, leading to the rescue of 76 children, comprising both males and females aged between seven and 20 years. All the rescued children were unharmed.
Three suspects were arrested during the operation. They were 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 parts of the country for child labour and other domestic work.
The suspects are currently in police custody, while the rescued children are being kept safely at the Kaduna State Police Command headquarters, pending the arrival and proper identification of their parents or guardians.
Police said investigations have commenced to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, to track down other possible collaborators. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property, urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support proactive policing.
