On April 9, 2025, Nigerian security forces successfully rescued 17 individuals who had been kidnapped from Loto Village near Kuchi Sarkin-Pawa in Niger State on March 3, 2025. The operation, led by the Kaduna State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), utilized a non-kinetic, intelligence-driven approach to secure the victims' release without direct confrontation.

The rescued group comprised 11 females and 6 males, including several children ranging from one to 15 years old. All were promptly taken to the Police Clinic in Kaduna for medical evaluation and were reported to be in stable condition.

In a related development, the same day, police intercepted a commercial vehicle at Kawo Central Motor Park in Kaduna, uncovering 21 fabricated AK-47 rifles concealed within. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Jamilu Suleiman from Rafin Guza, Kaduna, was arrested and confessed to being instructed to deliver the firearms to an unknown individual. ​

The rescued victims were formally handed over to the Niger State Government on April 11, 2025, at the state police headquarters in Minna. Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, who received them on behalf of Governor Umaru Bago, commended the collaborative efforts of the security agencies and emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing security challenges.