The Council Secretary of Munya Local Government Area, Daina Usman, has been abducted alongside four others in a late-night attack in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State.
The attack occurred at around 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, when suspected armed bandits invaded his residence near the Riverbank, an area frequently targeted by criminal elements.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed to SaharaReporters that Usman had regained his freedom.
“He was abducted yesterday around 10 p.m., and he was released early this morning around 3 a.m. Efforts to rescue others are in progress,” he said.
However, the police did not disclose whether a ransom was paid or provide further details of how he was released.
The victims still in captivity include Usman’s wife, Deborah Daina, along with Sati Daina, Gambo Shagari, and Sorro (also known as Snu).
According to SaharaReporters, it was gathered that the assailants swiftly fled with the hostages into Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, a known escape route for criminal groups operating in the region.
Upon receiving a distress call from the local vigilante, security operatives mobilised a joint task force to track the kidnappers.
The operation involves military personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State Police Tactical Teams, and local vigilante groups.
