The Office of the National Security Adviser has handed over 128 kidnapped victims, recently rescued from bandits’ camps in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, to the state government.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the victims to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Laka explained that the victims were freed during coordinated security operations carried out in two phases earlier in August.
The first operation, conducted on August 14, led to the rescue of 42 individuals — including 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler. The second phase on August 19 resulted in the rescue of 88 more individuals, comprising 34 males and 54 females.
“Unfortunately, among the second group, one child died due to illness, likely caused by the exhaustion suffered during captivity,” Laka said. “Additionally, one woman gave birth prematurely after the rescue, and the baby is currently receiving medical care.”
He noted that since their rescue, the victims had been under the care of ONSA, where they received psychological support, medical treatment, and rehabilitation services.
“With their recovery process well underway, we are now handing them over to the Zamfara State Government for reintegration into their families and communities,” he added.
