Kaduna Govt Reacts As 58 Kidnapped Victims Regain Freedom

At least 58 individuals, including women and children, who were kidnapped by bandits in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been rescued.

Naija News understands that the kidnapped victims were released around 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, following a non-kinetic operation orchestrated by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Following their freedom, the rescued individuals were initially taken for medical evaluations before being debriefed at the NSA’s office by Nuhu Ribadu.

Subsequently, they were handed over to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who then transferred them to the representative of Governor Uba Sani, Chief of Staff Sani Kila.

In a subsequent interview, the Chief of Staff expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the NSA, and the military for their unwavering support in combating insecurity in Kaduna and the Northwest region.

He particularly acknowledged Governor Sani for his crucial involvement in facilitating the victims’ release.

“I just want to thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, the NSA, all the security agencies, and most importantly, Governor Uba Sani. He truly deserves accolades for his tireless efforts in securing the release of the victims. I also want to thank the religious leaders and traditional institutions for their support—security is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s all unite to fight insecurity,” he said.

This successful operation, according to him, represents a notable advancement, particularly in light of the increasing incidents of kidnappings in the area.

The Joint Rescue Mission, spearheaded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 1 Mechanised Division, highlights the dedication of Governor Sani’s administration to addressing insecurity in the state through a non-violent strategy in collaboration with multiple security agencies.

At the handover ceremony, General Musa remarked that the victims, several of who had incurred injuries, had been provided with medical care.

“Six of them had serious injuries and were treated. They were well-fed and clothed before being presented here. We now hand them over to you and thank His Excellency,” he stated.