The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has officially handed over 128 individuals rescued from bandit camps in Zamfara State to the state government for reintegration.
The handover ceremony was conducted in Abuja on Tuesday, where the victims were presented to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, by Major-General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
According to General Laka, the hostages were freed during a series of coordinated security operations carried out in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area earlier this month.
The rescues were conducted in two distinct phases. The first operation on August 14th resulted in the liberation of 42 people, a group that included 14 men, 27 women, and one toddler. A subsequent operation on August 19th led to the rescue of an additional 88 victims, comprising 34 males and 54 females.
Tragically, the operations were marked by moments of sorrow. General Laka reported that one child from the second group succumbed to an illness, likely resulting from the severe fatigue endured during captivity.
In a contrasting turn of events, one of the rescued women gave birth prematurely shortly after her liberation; both the mother and the newborn are currently receiving necessary medical attention.
Following their rescue, all the victims were placed under the care of ONSA. During this period, they received comprehensive medical treatment, psychological support, and participated in rehabilitation programs to aid their recovery. With their ongoing recovery process reaching a suitable stage, the decision was made to hand them over to the Zamfara State Government, which will now facilitate their final reintegration with their families and home communities.
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cc: Daily Post NG
