A kidnapped woman and her two-year-old son have been rescued by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following a coordinated operation that led security personnel to a forest hideout in Kwara State, authorities said on Sunday.
The victims, identified as 43-year-old Adijat Kuburat and her son, Abdul Malik Hamzat, were freed during an intelligence-led raid carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after credible information revealed the location of the kidnappers’ camp.
According to police, the operation escalated into a gun battle after the suspected kidnappers opened fire on approaching security operatives. The officers returned fire, forcing the armed gang to abandon the hideout and flee deeper into the forest. A subsequent search of the area led to the successful rescue of the mother and her young child, who were found alive.
The rescued victims were immediately evacuated from the forest and taken for medical evaluation, while security agencies launched a manhunt to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the abduction.
The successful operation marks another breakthrough in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping, a crime that continues to pose a significant security challenge across several parts of the country. Police reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the perpetrators and strengthening intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting lives and restoring public confidence in national security.
