Kano police rescue abducted APC chairman after 68 days in captivity

After a 68-day captivity, the Kano State Police Command managed to free Abdullahi Beli, who serves as the APC chairman in Rogo Local Government Area. The politician, who is popularly known as Abdullahi Fanka, was freed following a coordinated security operation. CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, the Commissioner of Police, revealed the successful operation during a meeting with Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Government House in Kano. On Sunday, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, issued a statement that corroborated the operational details and the governor's reaction.

Background

News reports indicate that armed individuals took Beli from his home in the Beli community, located within Rogo Local Government Area. After the initial kidnapping, the victim recounted that his captors moved him through several different locations to avoid detection. The areas traversed during the captivity included Danja, Ikara, and Giwa in Kaduna State, along with sections of Zamfara State. The movement of the victim across state borders highlighted the cross-border nature of the criminal activity. CP Bakori explained that the successful rescue was the result of tactical security measures that were carefully coordinated by the police command. He stated that these measures eventually led to the victim’s freedom. The police chief further emphasized the command's resolve to step up its fight against kidnapping and various other crimes throughout Kano State.

Why it matters

The rescue of a local government party chairman after nearly three months in captivity underscores the severity of the kidnapping crisis in the region. Governor Yusuf praised CP Bakori and the officers of the state police command for their role in obtaining the release of the APC leader. In his statement, the governor specifically acknowledged the contributions of several key officers involved in the operation. Among those recognized were CSP Aliyu Muhammad Auwal, the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad, CSP Ado Muhammad Audi, and CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Police Public Relations Officer. The governor's government has once again pledged its backing for security forces in their mission to safeguard lives and assets while guaranteeing the well-being of citizens throughout the state. Following the traumatic experience, Governor Yusuf instructed the State Commissioner for Health to provide the freed politician with thorough medical care and psychological support. This care is to be provided at the expense of the state government, acknowledging the physical and psychological trauma associated with prolonged captivity.