11 hostages flee bandits’ camps in Kaduna

No fewer than 11 people have fled bandits’ camps at the outskirts of Sabon Birni town, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Kaduna Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed this in a report.

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He said bandits were dislodged in the ongoing security operations in many of the bandits’ camps, leaving them in disarray and enabling the escape of the hostages.

“Careful checks revealed that the 11 hostages are a mix of those kidnapped from Dumbin Rauga, Zaria LGA and also along the Kaduna-Zaria highway,” he said.

Aruwan identified the escaped hostages as Fatima Sani, Aisha Falalu, Amina Aliyu, Hadizatu Sani and Bashar Falalu all from Dumbin Rauga, all children between the ages of 7 and 10.

Also, Fatima Umar, Zara Umar and her infant, Hadiza Madu Sharif, Hauwa Ali, Zara Madu Sharif and Maryam from the Kaduna-Zaria road who were abducted while travelling from Maiduguri to Ilorin

The families of those kidnapped at Dumbin Rauga had collectively paid a ransom of N3 million, but the bandits refused to release the captives, insisting that two motorcycles must be included in the ransom deal.

He said the escapees were recovered by the troops and have since been reunited with their families.

He also said troops of Operation Safe have rescued two kidnapped victims around Kirti village of Jema’a LGA. They have also been reunited with their families.

He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed his satisfaction with the developments, praising the military’s efforts and the degrading effect of the onslaught on bandit hideouts across the state.