From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on Tuesday, handed over 128 kidnapped victims rescued from bandits’ camps in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State to the state government.
The National Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, made this known while presenting the victims to the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
General Laka, while noting that the victims were freed during coordinated security operations carried out in two phases earlier in August, said the first group of victims — 42 individuals comprising 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler — were rescued on August 14, while the second group, comprising 88 individuals made up of 34 males and 54 females, was freed on August 19.
He said, “Unfortunately, among the second group, we lost one of the children due to illness, likely from the fatigue they suffered while in captivity.
“In addition, one of the women gave birth prematurely after the rescue, and the baby is currently receiving medical attention.”
According to him, since their rescue, the victims have been under the care of the ONSA, where they received psychological support, medical treatment, and rehabilitation.
He said, “With their recovery process ongoing, we are now handing them over to the Zamfara State Government for reintegration with their families and communities.”
