Nine kidnap victims of Niger nationality were rescued by Katsina state government on Monday from their captivity.
The rescued persons, which include four women, four men, and a toddler, said they were kidnapped from their village, Bima in Maradi, Republic of Niger, about nine days ago.
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Speaking with pressmen at the Katsina government House when he received the freed captives, the state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, said the feat was made possible due the continued efforts of his administration in collaboration with the security agencies and other stakeholders.
“The last time I spoke with you, I told you the effort being made by the security agencies and Katsina state government to secure the release of all those that are kidnapped in Katsina state.
“The last time we had about 144, then when I was in Abuja, additional 37 were released and sent to their home state of Zamfara, and today we have nine who were kidnapped from Niger republic,” the governor said.
He added that the released persons would be examined by medical experts after which they would be handed over to the Nigerien authorities through the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Masari maintained that the state was not into any dialogue with the bandits, but still utilizing the same window and the same actors used in securing the release of Kankara schoolboys.
“The army, the Air force, the Police and other security agencies are still in operation on the frontline and on the part of the gunmen, they are also still striking, which is to tell you that we are not into any peace deal with them,” said.
One of the victims, Issofou Ali, said 10 of them were abducted from the village but one person, a Nigerian negotiated her way out through the payment of ransom, while the rest were chained as they spent nine days in captivity.
He said animals were also rustled by the gunmen who invaded the village around 11 pm last week Saturday.
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