The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and the Military have rescued eight persons abducted around Millennium City and Marabar Rido areas of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Some of the eight rescued Kaduna Kidnapped victims.

The victims were rescued between October 31 and November 2, 2026, through coordinated operations by the security and intelligence agencies in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government.

Addressing a news conference at the DSS Command headquarters in Kaduna, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Muhammad Rabiu, said the operation was part of sustained efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for recurring abductions in the Millennium City General Area and its environs.

Rabiu said the area had witnessed recurring incidents of kidnapping, generating considerable public concern and attracting media attention over the safety of residents and other stakeholders.

The rescued victims were identified as Jamila Muhammad, 27, wife of Abdulkadir Bello; Talatu Yakubu, 40; Yunana Bawa, 30; Calista Bishop, 27; Chidinma Onuwere, 36; Eucharia Obi, 41; Godiya Victor, 50; and Miracle Alex, an eight-year-old girl.

The latest rescue came barely weeks after security agencies successfully rescued Ahmad Zakka and members of his family from captivity on October 15, 2026.

The Commissioner said the successive breakthroughs demonstrated the determination of security agencies to ensure the rescue of kidnapping victims and dismantle criminal networks operating across the state.

He acknowledged the strategic coordination and contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the operational support of the Nigeria Police Force, the intelligence-driven efforts of the DSS and the involvement of the Military in the operations.

Rabiu also commended the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, for its continued support and cooperation with security agencies in tackling kidnapping and banditry.

He said the operations reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to strengthening national security and protecting lives and property through effective coordination among the country’s security and intelligence institutions.

The police commissioner further assured residents that the government, working with security agencies, was intensifying efforts to eliminate kidnapping and banditry across Kaduna State, adding that ongoing security operations would be sustained and strengthened to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

The Police Commissioner while noting the bandits take advantage of the complex terrain in the state, he assured that, additional deployment of personnel and equipment, including 30 vans and eight armored personal carriers to ensure a secured environment.

He, however, called on residents to complement the efforts of security agencies by remaining vigilant and providing credible, accurate and actionable intelligence on the activities, identities and movements of suspected kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in their communities.

He assured members of the public that information supplied to security agencies would be treated with the necessary confidentiality and acted upon appropriately. He also urged traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the collective campaign against insecurity.

Rabiu  appealed to media organisations to sustain their support through responsible and professional reporting, particularly by avoiding the publication of unverified information capable of undermining security operations or creating unnecessary panic, reaffirming the commitment of the DSS, ONSA, Police, Military and Kaduna State Government to restoring lasting peace across the state.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has bagged the Distinguished Human Capital Development Champion Award, in recognition of his outstanding investments in education, skills development, youth empowerment and sustainable development.

The Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria (CIHCDN), which honoured him with the award, noted that it celebrates the Governor’s people-centred policies.

The award which was presented at the Institute’s National Conference held at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, applauds Governor Uba Sani’s initiatives in expanding access to education, healthcare, vocational skills, economic opportunities and improved living conditions of citizens of Kaduna State.

The Institute stated that the award recognises exceptional leadership in advancing education, healthcare, skills development, rural transformation, financial inclusion, youth empowerment and capacity building.

It described Governor Uba Sani’s initiatives as a model of people-centred governance capable of delivering sustainable development and improved opportunities for Kaduna State citizens.

Speaking after receiving the award, the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, expressed the Governor’s appreciation to the Institute, for recognising the commitment of Kaduna State to human capital development.

“This recognition is a testament to Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to placing people at the centre of governance. His Excellency firmly believes that the greatest investment any government can make is in its people, particularly the young, women and the vulnerable,” Maiyaki stated.

He cited the establishment of three Vocational Training and Skills Development Centres in Rigachikun, Soba and Samarun Kataf, designed to equip approximately 32,000 young people annually with practical, industry-relevant skills across 14 trades.

“These centres represent a deliberate shift towards building a productive, skilled and economically independent generation. Our objective is to transform young people from job seekers into skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and employers of labour,” he explained.

The Commissioner further noted that the administration has made substantial investments in education, including the construction of 736 new classrooms, renovation of over 1,200 classrooms, recruitment of 10,000 teachers and training of more than 33,000 teachers to strengthen quality education and enhance access.

He recalled the reduction of tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by up to 50 per cent, alongside expanded scholarship and bursary interventions, demonstrating the Governor’s determination to remove financial barriers to education.

On agricultural development, Maiyaki disclosed that the administration has distributed 1,400 trucks of free fertiliser to 420,000 smallholder farmers, describing the intervention as a major investment in rural livelihoods, food security and economic empowerment.

“Governor Uba Sani recognises that human capital development goes beyond the classroom. It includes empowering farmers to become more productive, equipping young people with employable skills, strengthening healthcare delivery and creating opportunities for families to achieve economic independence,” he said.

Maiyaki also highlighted the Governor’s investments in healthcare, including the revitalisation of 255 Primary Healthcare Centres, improved welfare for healthcare professionals and initiatives to expand access to quality medical services, particularly in underserved rural communities.

He stressed that the administration’s development agenda is anchored on inclusive governance, by ensuring that opportunities and government interventions reach communities, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations.

“This award is not merely a recognition of achievements recorded; it is an encouragement to do even more. His Excellency remains resolute in building a Kaduna State where every child has access to quality education, every young person has an opportunity to acquire productive skills, and every citizen has a fair chance to prosper,” Maiyaki added.

The Commissioner assured the Institute that the recognition would further strengthen the Governor’s determination to consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate investments in human capital development.

The Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rt. Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, has declared that Governor Uba Sani cannot deliver 70 per cent of Kaduna State’s votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Ashiru described the governor’s projection as unrealistic and disconnected from the prevailing mood of the people, insisting that the growing dissatisfaction with the APC-led governments at both the state and federal levels would be reflected in the outcome of the elections.

The ADC candidate was reacting to a recent interview granted by Governor Uba Sani on a national television station, during which the governor expressed confidence that he would secure 70 per cent of Kaduna’s votes for President Tinubu while predicting that the ADC would fail to obtain 25 per cent of the votes in the state.

Ashiru dismissed the governor’s prediction as political wishful thinking, arguing that electoral victories are determined by the will of the people rather than ambitious projections made by political officeholders.

He maintained that the people of Kaduna State were increasingly concerned about the challenges confronting them, particularly insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment and the need for improved public services, adding that the electorate would make their decisions based on their experiences and expectations for better governance.

According to Ashiru, Governor Uba Sani should be more concerned about addressing the pressing needs of Kaduna residents than making bold electoral promises on behalf of a government whose performance, he argued, would be a major issue in the 2027 elections.

He said the governor’s confidence in delivering 70 per cent of the votes to President Tinubu was not supported by the realities confronting ordinary citizens, many of whom, according to him, were looking for credible alternatives capable of restoring public confidence in governance.

Ashiru further challenged the governor’s assertion that the ADC would not secure 25 per cent of the votes in Kaduna State, describing it as an underestimation of the party’s growing appeal and its determination to provide a credible alternative to the APC.

He stressed that the ADC was strengthening its structures across the state’s three senatorial districts and engaging stakeholders, community leaders, youths, women and other critical groups in preparation for the forthcoming elections.

The former lawmaker said the party’s commitment to grassroots mobilisation, unity and issue-based campaigns would enable it to connect with the electorate and present its programmes for addressing the state’s developmental challenges.

Ashiru also emphasised that Kaduna residents deserved a government that would prioritise their safety, improve access to quality education and healthcare, create economic opportunities and invest in critical social infrastructure.

In a statement issued by Ashiru’s Spokesman, Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, the ADC governorship candidate urged Governor Uba Sani and other APC leaders not to mistake political declarations for popular support, noting that the ultimate decision rested with the electorate, who would have the opportunity to express their preferences through the ballot box.

Ashiru reaffirmed his confidence in the party’s prospects in Kaduna State, declaring that the ADC was prepared to offer the people a credible alternative in 2027.

He called on eligible voters to remain politically engaged, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) where necessary and participate actively in the electoral process.

Ashiru reiterated that the ADC would continue to pursue peaceful, issue-based campaigns focused on the welfare of the people, while urging political leaders to respect the electorate and allow them to freely determine the state’s political future.