By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribadu on Tuesday at his office in Abuja handed over 59 rescued kidnap victims to the Kaduna State government.
The victims believed to have been taken from various parts of the state were handed over to Governor Uba Sani who was represented by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Sani Liman Kila, amid a brief ceremony for onward reunion with their families.
According to the NSA, the victims comprising male, female, children were rescued along Abuja-Kaduna highway in the Rijana area of the state through joint operations by the joint security forces from the military and intelligence agencies, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Ribadu explained that the victims were made up of 28 females, 24 males, 6 children while 1 person was reportedly hospitalised.
The NSA assured that the President Tinubu-led federal government was working round the clock to ensure that other kidnapped victims still in captivity around the country are released.
“Well, once again we are here to witness the result of a joint operation of all the security forces under the directives of Mr President to work extra to ensure that we bring peace, security and restore normalcy to our country.
“Yet again today, we have just received those who were rescued from captivity as a result of kidnapping by bandits. They are going back to their homes, we have seen them.
“Thousands and thousands of people have got grace and the work of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been able to bring peace, security, and restore their freedom so they are going back. We believe it is a journey.
“Already, a lot is taking place. We are restoring order, we are bringing justice, we are bringing back peace to our country.
“About 59 or so people today. Last week, another number like that and it is ongoing across the country. And it is also a joint operation of all the security forces under the directives of Mr. President.
“I would like to thank all those who are in charge or in the forefront of fighting to keep us safe in our country. The armed forces, the intelligence community, the civil police, all of us are working as one and we are seeing the result.
“We thank God for this opportunity given to us. We will continue to work and indeed it is a matter of time. Nigeria will be peaceful and we will restore order, definitely,” Ribadu said.
Adding his his voice to the narrative, Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, disclosed the victims had been in captivity for various periods, the most being four months, before they were rescued.
On his part, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, who was represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, described the seamless collaboration between the Kaduna State government and the federal government as a model of partnership for all.
He said, “We want to particularly thank the Kaduna State Government and the governor of Kaduna. They have been exceptional. They have done extremely well as a collaboration and cooperation between the federal government and the state.”
Appreciating the governor, Mr President, and the NSA for the efforts being made to ensure the country is safe, the General said, “This probably is one of the greatest achievements in the history of the government.
“Kaduna has been the most abused state in terms of insecurity in the last couple of years but today, it is one of the freest because of the relationship that we were able to work and establish between the federal government and the state.