The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday in Abuja reunited 128 kidnap victims with their families following their rescue by security forces in Zamfara State.
The victims, comprising men, women, and children, were freed during two separate operations carried out at Kaura Namoda in Zamfara. Ribadu, while addressing the gathering, confirmed that one of the rescued children tragically died due to illness, while a premature baby delivered during the rescue mission was under incubation at a medical facility.
The NSA assured that government agencies are making arrangements to provide medical attention, trauma management, and reintegration support for the survivors. “These victims will be treated for trauma and assisted to settle back into their communities. The perpetrators of these heinous acts will be hunted down and brought to justice,” Ribadu stated.
He further urged Nigerians to desist from politicizing security issues, stressing: “Let us take politics out of security challenges. This is about the lives and safety of our people.”
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, corroborated the NSA’s remarks, noting that the medical welfare of the rescued victims was being prioritized. He confirmed that arrangements were ongoing to ensure both physical and psychological recovery for all those freed.
The successful operation has once again highlighted the intensified efforts of Nigerian security agencies in curbing insecurity, particularly kidnapping and banditry, which have plagued parts of the North-West.
