A total of 14 hostages have escaped from the camps of their terrorists’ abductors in Kaduna State.
Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State said in a security update on Thursday (August 12) that 11 of the hostages escaped from bandits’ camps at the outskirts of Sabon Birni town, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Two others, Barira Sulaiman Inusa and Isah Musa, were rescued by troops of Operation Safe Haven around Kirti village of Jema’a LGA while another hostage, one Mrs Chioma Amanda Silver, was rescued in Ungwan Sarki Goza village, Mariri, Lere LGA.
Mr Aruwan said that the ongoing security operations in Kaduna State dislodged many of the terror-bandits, leaving their camps in disarray and enabling the escape of the hostages being held there.
Aruwan disclosed that 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.
The escaped hostages were identified as follows: From Dumbin Rauga (all children between ages 7 and 10): Fatima Sani, Aisha Falalu, Amina Aliyu, Hadizatu Sani, Bashar Falalu.
And from the Kaduna-Zaria road (abducted while traveling from Maiduguri to Ilorin), they include Fatima Umar, Zara Umar (and her infant), Hadiza Madu Sharif, Hauwa Ali, Zara Madu Sharif and Maryam Madu.
The Commissioner said that “security reports disclosed that the families of those kidnapped at Dumbin Rauga had collectively paid a ransom of N3 million but the bandits reneged on the agreement to release the captives, insisting that two motorcycles must be included in the ransom deal.
He noted that the escapees were recovered by the troops and have since been reunited with their families.
Giving further details, the Commissioner noted that “troops of Operation Safe Haven reported the rescue of two kidnapped victims, Barira Sulaiman Inusa and Isah Musa, around Kirti village of Jema’a LGA. They have also been reunited with their families.
“Furthermore, the troops rescued one Mrs Chioma Amanda Silver, in Ungwan Sarki Goza village, Mariri, Lere LGA. She had been abducted by bandits who abandoned her on sighting the troops.
“Receiving the reports, 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. He also commended the swift response of the troops to rescue the kidnapped citizens in Jema’a and Lere LGAs.
“The Governor sent his prayers and best wishes to all the former hostages as they rejoined their families.”
