The Kaduna State Government has said that the security agencies report revealed that 11 hostages escaped from the bandits’ camps in the outskirts of Sabon Birni town, Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The state Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement explained, “Reports from security agencies have informed the Kaduna State Government that 11 hostages escaped from bandits’ camps at the outskirts of Sabon Birni town, Igabi LGA.”
The statement further explained that ongoing security operations dislodged many of the bandits, leaving them in disarray and enabling the escape of the hostages.
According to the statement, careful checks revealed that the 11 hostages are a mix of those kidnapped from Dumbin Rauga, Zaria Local Government Area and also along the Kaduna-Zaria highway.
It gave the names of the escaped hostages as Fatima Sani, Aisha Falalu, Amina Aliyu, Hadizatu Sani and Bashar Falalu, stressing that they are from Dumbin Rauga, all children between ages 7 and 10.
According to the statement, others who escaped from the Kaduna-Zaria road abducted while traveling from Maiduguri to Ilorin are Fatima Umar, Zara Umar, Hadiza Madu Sharif, Hauwa Ali, Zara Madu Sharif and Maryam Madu.
The statement added that the families of those kidnapped at Dumbin Rauga had collectively paid a ransom of N3 million, saying that the bandits reneged on the agreement to release the captives, insisting that two motorcycles must be included in the ransom deal.
The statement said that the escapees were recovered by the troops and have since been reunited with their families.
In another development, troops of Operation Safe Haven reported the rescue of two kidnapped victims, Barira Sulaiman Inusa and Isah Musa, around Kirti village of Jema’a Local Government Area, adding that they have also been reunited with their families.
It explained that the troops rescued one Mrs Chioma Amanda Silver, in Ungwan Sarki Goza village, Mariri, Lere Local Government Area, pointing out that she was abducted by bandits who abandoned her on sighting the troops.
While receiving the reports, Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed satisfaction with the developments, praising the military’s efforts and the degrading effect of the onslaught on bandit hideouts across the state.
He also commended the swift response of the troops to rescue the kidnapped citizens in Jema’a and Lere local government areas.
The Governor sent his prayers and best wishes to all the former hostages as they rejoined their families.
