Kaduna Family Freed After Two-Month Ordeal: Police Rescue Woman, Three Daughters Unharmed

Kaduna Family Freed After Two-Month Ordeal: Police Rescue Woman, Three Daughters Unharmed

Pix: Mojibat and her daughters

A woman and her three young daughters, abducted from their home in Kaduna metropolis over two months ago, have been rescued unharmed by operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

The victims—Mojibat Musa Adewumi, 42, and her daughters Aisha Omobolanle Bello (14), Sofiat Omowonuola Bello (11), and Latifat Bolatito Bello (9) were taken captive on the night of September 1, 2019, around 9:00 p.m., at their residence on No. 5 Lagos Street, Kaduna metropolis in Kaduna State.

According to police, the armed kidnappers stormed the home, injuring several neighbours in the process before escaping with the four victims. One daughter, Mariam Omolola Bello, marked in the picture, was not at home as she was attending school at the time and escaped abduction.

The family was rescued yesterday, November 8, 2019, in what police described as a successful operation. No ransom was demanded or paid, sources within the command said.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing earlier today, November 9, DSP Yakubu Sabo, the Police Public Relations Officer for Kaduna State Command, said preliminary investigations revealed that the primary target of the abductors was Sulaiman Taiwo (also known as Sulaimon), the husband of Mrs. Adewumi and stepfather to the children.

"The kidnappers were specifically after Sulaiman Taiwo for reasons that are not yet clear to the police," DSP Sabo stated. "We strongly condemn this dastardly act and assure the public that a full investigation has been launched to apprehend those responsible and uncover the motive behind the abduction."

Taiwo, described as a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, remains at large, and police have appealed for credible information on his whereabouts or any details that could aid the ongoing probe.

While some local residents have speculated that the incident may stem from prior dealings involving Taiwo and criminal elements possibly linked to extremist groups such as Boko Haram, police have dismissed such claims as unverified rumours and cautioned against spreading them without evidence.

The release of the victims without any ransom payment has sparked questions about the kidnappers' true intentions, further fuelling public concern over the motives driving such crimes.

Mrs. Adewumi and her daughters, who appeared visibly shaken upon their release, are currently receiving medical attention and psychological support to help them recover from the traumatic experience.

Kaduna State has witnessed a disturbing surge in kidnapping incidents in recent years, often attributed to banditry and other organised criminal groups operating in the region and surrounding forests. Security agencies have repeatedly pledged intensified operations to curb the menace and safeguard residents.

Police authorities have urged members of the public with useful information to contact the nearest police station or the command's hotline, emphasising that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against insecurity.