The Nigerian Air Force’s special force says it rescued 26 kidnapped victims while on a fighting patrol along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road as bandits abducted travellers.

The NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The rescue operation occurred when the special force came across five abandoned vehicles near Anguwar Yako.

“Acting on instincts, the special force began exploiting the general scene of the abduction and extended for about three kilometres radius well into the bushes while clearing the general area,” explained the statement.

The NAF added that upon sighting the special force, “about three kidnapped escapees suddenly came out from the bushes (sic).”

A further search by the special force, said the statement, led to the discovery of four different groups of victims hiding in the bush.

“After a thorough search further into the hinterland, a total of 26 victims were rescued. On interrogation, the victims, who were travelling from Birnin Gwari to various locations including Kaduna, Minna and Kano, revealed that while en route, a large number of bandits in three groups suddenly appeared from the bushes from three different directions along the route and surrounded their vehicles,” the NAF statement narrated.

NAF said the kidnappers fled “with a handful of the victims while the majority took cover and hid in the bushes until they sighted the special force.”

(NAN)