The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has handed over 128 kidnapped victims rescued from bandits’ camps in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State to the state government and their families in Abuja.
The victims, comprising males, females and children, were rescued by security forces in two different operations in Kaura Namoda in Zamfara State.
Ribadu assured that the victims would be treated for trauma and helped to settle down in their communities.
While commending security forces for doing a great job in rescuing the victims, the NSA said the perpetrators would be hunted and brought to justice, even as he warned, “Let us take politics out of security challenges.”
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, said one of the rescued children died due to illness while a premature baby delivered during the rescue operation was being incubated in a medical facility.
General Laka disclosed that the victims were freed during coordinated security operations carried out in two phases earlier in August.
According to him, the first group of victims, 42 individuals comprising 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler, were rescued on August 14.
The second group, comprising 88 individuals made up of 34 males and 54 females, was freed on August 19.
Laka said, “Unfortunately, among the second group, we lost one of the children due to illness, likely from the fatigue they suffered while in captivity.
“In addition, one of the women gave birth prematurely after the rescue, and the baby is currently receiving medical attention.”
The NCTC National Coordinator explained that the victims have been under the care of the ONSA, where they received psychological support, medical treatment, and rehabilitation since their rescue.
He further said, “With their recovery process ongoing, we are now handing them over to the Zamfara State Government for reintegration with their families and communities.”
