This was contained in a statement issued by the commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, in Minna on Saturday.
Umar stated that the rescue operation was achieved as a result of a tip-off by residents of the area which led to the subsequent raid and rescue of the victims.
“On December 30, 2022, at about 1pm, following a tip-off that some roving gunmen were sighted around Bonu, Gwalu, and Chimbi areas of Gurara and Paikoro LGAs, a joint security force raided the areas, and during the raid, the criminals were routed and engaged in a gun battle,” the statement partly read.
Umar also said some of the gunmen were injured in the gun battle adding that they escaped with bullet wounds abandoning their victims.
“In the course of this, majority of the gunmen scampered for safety as some of them escaped with bullet injuries. The 13 kidnap victims, who were abducted from different locations and held captives, were abandoned by the abductors. They were rescued by security forces in Gurara LGA, Niger State.”
The commissioner gave the names of the rescued victims as: Ramatu Usman – 35 years, Jamila Jafaru – 15 years, Fatima Usman – 30 years, Hassana Usman, Salamatu Bio, Suleman Usman, Bayi Mohammed, and Awwalu Shagari, all kidnapped from Maje Daji via Dobi Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory.
He added that others rescued include: Fauziya Musa, Nazifa Ibrahim, Mansura Musa, and Wasila Musa, all kidnapped from Gwalu village via Kafin-koro in Paikoro LGA of Niger State.
