The Federal Government on Tuesday reunited 128 kidnap victims with their families, vowing to sustain its offensive against criminal networks until Nigerians can live free from violence.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu said the rescue was achieved through coordinated operations by the armed forces, police, intelligence services, and community support. The victims were abducted from Kaura Namoda in Zamfara State and freed after weeks of security operations in the North-West.
“It gives me great relief and joy to announce that, once again, through the tireless efforts of our security forces and the unwavering support of our communities, more innocent Nigerians have been rescued from the hands of criminals who sought to deny them their freedom,” Ribadu said.
He explained that the victims were brought to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to ensure their safety and begin rehabilitation, noting that psychosocial support was crucial to help them overcome trauma and reintegrate into their communities.
Ribadu praised the professionalism of security agencies and said the operation reflected the government’s renewed national security strategy. He stressed that the Tinubu administration had in recent months reunited several families separated by abductions, restoring hope across communities.
The NSA cautioned against politicising insecurity, warning that the suffering of victims should never be exploited for partisan purposes. “Let us take politics out of this tragedy. The pain of victims should never be turned into a tool for partisan gain,” he said.
Ribadu vowed that there would be no safe haven for bandits and terrorists, declaring: “We will hunt them, we will find them, and we will bring them to justice — or they will meet the same fate as the many kingpins already neutralised by our forces.”
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and share intelligence with security agencies, assuring that the government would continue deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
“The darkness is receding. The challenges we face are significant, but our resolve is greater. This is a process, one that will ultimately ensure that Nigeria becomes safe, secure, and peaceful for us all,” Ribadu said.
He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to defeating terrorism and banditry, stressing that the administration would not relent until every community was secured.
By Ojochenemi Onje @BusinessDay
