Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has disclosed that no fewer than 1,000 victims of verified mass abductions across the country have been successfully rescued by the Federal Government without paying ransom.
Ribadu, who stated this on Monday in Abuja while receiving 22 rescued students and staff of the Federal University Gusau, said that the covert operations were conducted in the last few months, adding that the successful rescue operations were testimonies to the efforts of the government to free all those being unlawfully held in captivity.
He said, “We have so far released over a thousand such victims without noise and in complete respect for their privacy and safety.
“We released people from Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba, Adamawa, and so many other states.
“Thousands, but never said a word, and we thank God for that, and maybe that is the reason why we are so far very successful.
“This occasion marks a final juncture in a series of rescues we have undertaken in the last few months to free victims of recent cases of mass abductions that are verified.
“It is making a difference, it is a matter of time, and we will see the outcome of the work we are doing,” he said.
The NSA said the victims were rescued unhurt and without any of the female abductees molested, adding that it was a marked departure from what had been the case in the past.
According to him, as we advance, the government is strengthening law enforcement and security measures to prevent further abductions, adding that the government would strengthen physical security across vulnerable communities in the country.
“This work is done by our security forces, our armed forces, our police, our intelligence agencies.
“All of us collectively have done this work together, and we all are fully participating, and this is the outcome of it,” he said.
Ribadu commended President Bola Tinubu for working assiduously to address insecurity in the country.