The Taraba State Police Command said it has rescued three kidnapped victims in the state.

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The feat, according to the command, was made possible following a swift operation in Sibre village, Ardo-Kola local government area of the state, on December 6, 2024.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Usman Abdullahi, in a statement on Sunday, said the action came due a distress call from some eyewitnesses.

“A team of police operatives from the Jalingo Area Command, in collaboration with local vigilantes, pursued the kidnappers who had abducted three individuals.

“The pursuit led to a confrontation at Dutse Mubayu near the Kona Mountains, where the kidnappers engaged the security team in a gun battle. Overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the police and vigilantes, the kidnappers fled, abandoning their victims,” the statement read.

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Identifying the rescued victims as Idris Adamu (40), Umar Usman (22), and Ibrahim Usman (17), the victims, who were “unharmed,” have been reunited with their families.

A magazine loaded with 35 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition was said to have been recovered during the operation.

While praising the efforts of the officers and the vigilante group for their prompt and coordinated action, the Commissioner of Police, Ukachi P. Opara, instructed the team to intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects and assured the public that the command is committed to ensuring the safety of Taraba residents.

The commissioner, who went ahead to provide some toll lines for the public, encouraged residents to call in case of emergencies and called for calm, assuring citizens that the police were in control of the situation.