The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has formally handed over 128 kidnap victims rescued from bandits’ camps in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State to the state government.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, disclosed this while presenting the victims to the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Laka, the victims were freed during coordinated security operations conducted in two phases earlier in August.
The first batch of 42 people comprising 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler was rescued on August 14. The second group of 88, made up of 34 males and 54 females, was freed on August 19.
“Sadly, among the second group, one child died due to illness, most likely from fatigue suffered during captivity. Also, one of the rescued women gave birth prematurely after the operation, and the newborn is receiving medical attention,” Laka revealed.
He explained that since their rescue, the victims had been in the care of ONSA, where they received medical treatment, psychological support, and rehabilitation.
“With their recovery process ongoing, we are now handing them over to the Zamfara State Government for reintegration with their families and communities,” he added.
