Ribadu receives final batch of rescued Zamfara varsity students — after 207 days in captivity

Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), has received 22 rescued students and some staff of the Federal University of Gusau, Zamfara.

Abducted in September 2023 alongside others, the students and the university officials were the last batch to regain their freedom.

Ribadu hailed the efforts of security agencies in rescuing the abducted students, noting that systems put in place by the federal government to fight insecurity are already producing results.

“It is making a difference, it is a matter of time and we will see the outcome of the work we are doing,” the NSA said as he received the students in Abuja on Monday.

He added that covert operations in the last few months have led to the rescue of over 1,000 victims of verified mass abduction across the country without paying ransom.

“We have so far released over a thousand of such victims without noise and in complete respect for their privacy and safety,” Ribadu said.

“We released people from Zambara, 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.”

Ribadu said the government is strengthening law enforcement and security measures to prevent further abductions.

Adamu Laka, the coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), said search and rescue operations conducted by security agencies were responsible for the release of the students in three batches.

“Search and rescue was conducted by a combined team of law enforcement agencies, and the abductees were subsequently released in three batches, after 207 days in captivity,” Laka said.

“The first batch was rescued on March 15, the second batch was rescued on April 12, and the last batch was rescued on April 14.

“All the abductees were profiled at NCTC while the ONSA medical team examined them and administered minor treatments on the bruises sustained by three of the abductees.

“Four of them were diagnosed with malaria and are being treated.”

Laka also said none of the females was molested, noting that they all had negative pregnancy tests.