By Abah Adah, Abuja
In what could be described as a confirmation of progress in the war against insecurity, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has announced the successful rescue of 60 kidnapped victims by Nigerian security forces.
The rescued individuals include: 35 men and 25 women. Among them are a Deputy Director with the National Assembly Service Commission, Ishaya Kukawa – believed to be a relative of Bishop Kukawa and Adesanya Michael, who was abducted from his residence in Kubwa, Abuja.
The victims abducted from Darei, Zango Kataf, and Kagarko Local Government Areas of Kaduna State were freed during a coordinated operation on April 7, 2025.
While addressing journalists during the handover of the rescued victims to be united with their families, Ribadu strongly cautioned against the payment of ransom to kidnappers, describing it as one of the biggest enablers of criminal activity in the country.
Ribadu reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to dismantling kidnapping networks and restoring peace and security across all regions.
“All rescued victims will undergo medical evaluation before being reunited with their families,” the NSA added, noting that the success of the operation was made possible through enhanced collaboration among security agencies.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, commended the consistent support of President Bola Tinubu and applauded the leadership of the NSA and the synergy among the armed forces and other security stakeholders. He called on citizens to remain vigilant and to share credible intelligence that can support ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.
He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to dismantling kidnapping networks and restoring peace and security across all regions.