Operatives of the Nigeria Police in Bauchi have rescued 16 kidnapped victims during a raid on kidnappers’ hideouts in the Lame Burra Forest in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

The police also neutralised scores of the kidnappers while intensifying efforts to arrest and prosecute the fleeing suspects who escaped with possible bullet wounds.

The rescue operation was carried out in line with Operation Restore Peace (ORP), which comprises police, military, and other quasi-security outfits, particularly local hunters on a routine patrol.

A statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, issued on Sunday, disclosed that the combined security outfits reportedly stormed the kidnappers’ den located on top of the mountain situated in the Shande area of Kurmi, a village on the outskirts of Burra, on September 2, 2023.

The command gave the names of the rescued victims as Zahariya Ibrahim, 17, female, from Dana Village, Burra; Walida Idi, 16, female, from Sabon da Mazai Village, Burra; Maryam Shehu, 25, female, from Sabon Gida Mazai village, Burra; Abubakar Adamu, 15, male, of Ruwan Dinya village, Burra; and Muntari Badamasi, 40, male, of Shaka Leme village in Burra.

Others are Ibrahim Abdullahi, 15, male, from Ruwan Dinya village, Burra, Sani Abdullahi, 10, male, from Ruwan Dinya village, Burra; Ibrahim Rabi’u, 30, male, from Shaka Leme village, Burra; Saleh Umaru, 35, male, of Matigwai village in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State; Isah Tashi, 20, male, from Kere Village, Burra; and Tasi’u Abdullahi, 30, male, ‘ from Shaka Leme Village, Burra.

Victims who were rescued with injuries include Alh. Shuaibu, from Kurmi village, Burra; Alh. Bammi, from Kongoro village, Burra; Mai Unguwa Shende village, Burra; Dantsoho Mai Shayi, from Kurmi village, Burra; and Abubakar, from Matigwai village, Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State.

Wakil said the injured victims have been taken to Burra General Hospital for immediate medical treatment.

According to Wakil: “On sighting the team of combined operatives, the kidnappers started firing at the operatives. However, in response, the operatives repelled the kidnappers with superior firepower, which lasted for about two hours. As a result, 16 kidnapped victims were rescued, five of whom sustained various degrees of injuries, while the remaining 11 were rescued unhurt.”