National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that security forces successfully rescued over 1,000 abduction victims without paying ransom.
He spoke on Monday in Abuja while receiving 22 rescued students and staff of the Federal University Gusau.
Those rescued were abducted from the school on September 22, 2023 when bandits attacked three off-campus students’ hostels at Sabon Gida in Gusau.
Those kidnapped from the university included female students, some male artisans, a private security guard and a protocol officer.
According to him, the successful rescue operations proved that the government was exerting unflinching efforts to free all abductees unlawfully held in captivity.
Ribadu said: “We have so far released over a thousand of such victims without noise and in complete respect for their privacy and safety.
“We released people from Zambara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba, Adamawa, and so many other states.
“Thousands, but never said a word and we thank God for that, and maybe that is the reason why we are so far very successful.
“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 that are verified.
“It is making a difference, it is a matter of time and we will see the outcome of the work we are doing.”
The NSA said the victims were rescued unhurt and without any of the female abductees molested, adding that it was a marked departure from what had been the case in the past.
According to him, going forward, the government is strengthening law enforcement and security measures to prevent further abductions.
“This work is done by our security forces, our armed forces, our police, our intelligence agencies. All of us collectively have done this work together and we all are fully participating and this is the outcome of it,” he said.
Ribadu commended the leadership of President Bola Tinubu for working assiduously to address insecurity in the country.
