The Department of State Services (DSS) has rescued the Administrative Secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Hamza Durya, who was abducted on Friday.
Durya was abducted at his residence in Durya village, Kibiya Local Government Area, by armed men who stormed his home in a coordinated raid.
According to the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the DSS launched an operation to secure the Secretary’s release.
He said the DSS operatives acted promptly and professionally, ensuring the safe release of the victim while apprehending two suspects who sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
“The Kano State Government considers this a welcome development and a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our security agencies,” the Commissioner said.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has consistently provided resources and support to enhance the operational capacity of security outfits, and this success underscores the effectiveness of ongoing strategies to combat crime across all 44 local government areas.”
The government urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that community cooperation is vital to strengthening the state’s security architecture.
Durya recounted the harrowing experience in the hands of his abductors.
He explained that the kidnappers gained entry into his home after waking his son and forcing him to reveal his whereabouts.
He was then chained, blindfolded, and taken to a livestock room in a community within nearby Rano Local Government Area.
“They chained me and closed my face, keeping me in a chicken and livestock room,” Durya said.
“Throughout my captivity, I never saw them pray. They initially demanded N300 million, later reduced it to N100 million, and then insisted on N100 million again after claiming they were told I am close to the Kano Governor.”
Durya alleged that the kidnappers were tipped off by someone within his community who misled them into believing he had large sums of money.
He added that the gang came from Kaduna State.
“It was someone from my community who informed them. They came from Rijana in Kaduna,” he said, thanking the DSS for saving his life without any ransom being paid.
One of the arrested suspects, who identified himself as Nasiru, admitted that the gang came from Rijana in Kaduna State to carry out the abduction.
He confessed that the operation was executed with the help of local informants.
“We came here from Rijana, and our guns were delivered to us later. We were about 10 in number, but the rest escaped. Only two of us were arrested, while others fled with gunshot wounds,” Nasiru confessed.