The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday, received 22 students and staff members of the Federal University of Gusau in Zamfara State rescued on Sunday.
Bandits had on September 2023 invaded the institution and abducted over 30 students and staff members.
Seven of the students were rescued while two escaped on Sunday, the remaining students were rescued by security forces.
Speaking while receiving the students in Abuja, the NSA appreciated the security operatives for rescuing the students “without losing anyone of them or paying any ransom.”
He said, “On behalf of the President, I thank all those involved in the successful rescue of the victims without losing anyone of them or paying any ransom.
“This is yet again a success story in our efforts to free all those being unlawfully held in captivity.
“We have so far released over a thousand such victims without noise and with complete respect to their privacy and safety.
“This occasion marks a final juncture in a series of rescues we have undertaken in the last few months, to free victims of recent cases of mass abductions.
“Going forward, we are strengthening law enforcement and security measures to prevent these abductions, and strengthen physical security across vulnerable communities.”
Ribadu urged them not to allow their experience to break them, but should rather make them stronger.
The NSA also thanked the parents of the rescued victims for their patience and understanding during the period and commended security agencies for their tireless work and sacrifices.
Earlier, the National Coordinator, National Counter-terrorism Center, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka(retd) said search and rescue operations conducted by security agencies led to the release of the students in three batches.
He said, “Search and rescue was conducted by a combined team of law enforcement agencies, and the abductees were subsequently released in three batches, after 207 days in captivity.
“The first batch was rescued on March 15, the second batch was rescued on April 12, and the last batch was rescued on April 14.
“All the abductees were profiled at NCTC while the ONSA Medical Team examined them and administered minor treatments on the bruises sustained by three of the abductees.
“Four of them were diagnosed with malaria and are being treated. None of the females was molested and all the females tested negative for pregnancy test.”
However, In an effort to consolidate on the successes recorded in the fight against kidnappers in the nation’s capital City , Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has handed over 60 motorcycles to the Vigilance Group of Nigeria VGN.
Issuing a stern warning during the handover of 100 motorcycles to Area Councils and Security agencies , the Minister emphasized that the motorcycles must not disappear into thin air once received by the agencies.
Wike also gave 30 motorcycles to the Nigeria Police and five each to the Department of State Services DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC.
The minister warned that the motorcycles must not be used in the townships but in hard-to-reach parts of suburb in Abuja, to fight insecurity.
The Minister, who charged the VGN to utilize the motorcycles to assist the Police and other security agencies in combating crimes particularly in the rural areas of the FCT, expressed appreciation to the group for its selfless sacrifices to secure lives and property in the nation’s capital.In the wordsof the Minister:
“Remember that security agencies requested for specialized motorcycles that will be used particularly in the rural areas. The vigilance teams will use them in the six Area Councils, and then the Police, the SSS, and the Civil Defence will also want to do theirs.
“Let me caution, particularly to the security agencies, I don’t want to hear stories tomorrow that the motorcycles are nowhere to be found again. I don’t want to hear such stories, because sometimes when you give out vehicles, before you knew it, the vehicles are no more there. Please utilize these motorcycles to fight crimes in the areas you have identified. Ordinarily, the Chairmen of the Area Councils ought to handle this, but this is our support to them in the councils.
“Make sure that these motorcycles are given out to the vigilance teams, and we are going to provide logistics for those who are going to use these motorcycles. We are going to provide logistics for them. We have promised the residents of Abuja and the Area Councils that security is a priority for the Renewed Hope Agenda. Anything we can do to protect lives and properties; we are going to do it.”
