The victims were abducted from Zurmi, Duran, and Gusau Metropolis in Zamfara State on April 22, 2024.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Head of Strategic Communications, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, Abu Michael, the victims were rescued in two batches on June 27, 2024, in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas.
He said the victims, comprising eight males and eight females, were handed to the state government by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Michael said, “In a demonstration of its unwavering commitment towards the safety and protection of Nigerians, the Federal Government has continued to record successes in various rescue operations of kidnap victims in the country, as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser officially handed over 16 abductees to officials of Zamfara State Government.
“The victims who were rescued in two batches on 27 June 2024 in Shinkafi and Tsafe LGAs comprised 8 males and 8 females. They were abducted from Zurmi, Duran, and Gusau Metropolis in Zamfara State on April 22, 2024, before they were successfully rescued by a team of security operatives of the NCTC, ONSA.”
While presenting them to officials of the state led by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, the NSA, said the president was committed to ending kidnapping and other crimes ravaging the country.
He said, “NSA reiterated the resolve of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Government to rid the country of kidnapping and other heinous crimes.
“He urged all citizens and residents of Nigeria to continue to support the efforts of the security agencies in achieving the government’s vision of securing the country. Ribadu assured that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring a safe and resilient society.”
Ribadu stated that the government was working with relevant agencies to secure ungoverned spaces used by criminal elements to perpetrate crimes.
He said, “The government is working assiduously with relevant authorities to close up ungoverned spaces that have continued to provide hiding places for criminal elements in the country.”
The National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Laka, after presenting the rescued victims to the NSA for their official handover, appealed to Nigerians to always and timely report suspicious activities and characters to security operatives to engender proactive response.
He recalled that a few weeks ago, 22 abducted students and staff of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, were also successfully rescued by joint efforts of security agencies coordinated by the NCTC.
