Security operatives in Katsina State Northern Nigeria, late on Thursday handed over 77 kidnap victims to the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari.
The Governor said rescuing the victims was a joint effort by the state government in collaboration with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Department of State Security (DSS) and other security agencies.
A total of 104 kidnap victims have so far been recently rescued through similar collaborations.
Governor Masari disclosed that out of the 104 victims, 16 were from Sabuwa, Faskari and Dandume axis of the state; 10 from Danmusa, adding that the 77 kidnap victims handed over to him on Thursday were from Batsari and Jibia axis.
He noted that the rescue of the kidnapped victims was in continuation of an exercise that began with the recovery of the recently abducted 344 schoolboys of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
Masari said, “We saw an opener and we are working with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in cooperation with the police, the army, the DSS, the Air force and other security agencies to bring back as many of the kidnapped victims as possible.
“And the process is still ongoing, we are doing this as quietly as we can to make sure that nobody is harmed and further kidnapping is stopped”.
In his remarks, Commissioner of Police for Katsina State, Sanusi Buba, said the bandits themselves made several appeals for peace to reign in their domains.
“This process has been on for some days. We are making efforts to ensure that all those that are still in captivity are safely rescued without the payment of any ransom or hindrance. We hope and pray that this method will not be limited to Katsina State but will go beyond all other vulnerable states,” he said.
It was understood that the 77 kidnap victims who have been rescued are to be reunited with their families on Friday.
