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.

Amnesty International has on Thursday condemned the arrest, detention and four-year jail term handed to 23-year-old journalist Farida Isiak in Kaduna State.

Amnesty said the case as vindictive and an attempt to silence press freedom.

According to the organisation, the journalist’s arrest and subsequent sentencing were linked to her attempt to expose alleged police misconduct involving her parents.

In a post on it verified facebook page, the organisation said, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest, detention, and rushed sentencing of 23-year-old journalist Farida Isiak by authorities in Kaduna State. Her arrest and subsequent punishment were clearly because of her attempt to expose abuses by the police. Sentencing a journalist to 4-years in prison after a sham trial is a travesty of justice”

“Farida Isiak, a reporter with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna, was taken into custody around 10:00 p.m. on Monday, 20 October, by officers under the command of the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaban Jos, Usman Adamu. The situation began as a minor disagreement between her mother and a neighbour over a 100 naira change dispute during a sale of charcoal. Police officers initially arrested her mother and later detained her father when he went to secure her release, using their detention as leverage to force Farida to come to the police station.

Amnesty added, “When Farida arrived at the station, police officers accused her of defaming them because of a Facebook post she wrote criticizing their unlawful treatment of her parents. Even though she complied with police demands to delete the post and apologize in the hope of securing her parents’ release, officers kept her in custody and rushed her to a Sharia Court in Kawo. The presiding judge sentenced her to four years in prison or a fine of 1.75 million naira on charges of defamation, completely ignoring the initial police misconduct and the abusive actions that led to the incident.

The arrest, detention, and hasty sentencing of Farida Isiak are a flagrant abuse of power by the police and weaponization of the judicial system to silence free speech and intimidate journalists. Arresting and holding a citizen’s parents to force a journalist to hand herself over is an unlawful tactic that violates rule of law. Demanding accountability for police actions is a constitutional right”

“Amnesty International calls on the Kaduna State Police Command and Nigerian judicial authorities to immediately release Farida Isiak, drop all charges, and cancel the fine imposed on her. Nigeria Police Force must launched a full and independent investigation into the conduct of police officers involved in the unlawful detention of her family. Nigerian authorities must stop using defamation charges and the legal system to harass journalists and restrict press freedom” Amnesty International stated.