NSA Nuhu Ribadu, on Saturday, handed over 58 people rescued by the security agencies in joint operations with the Kaduna government.

Mr Ribadu handed the victims to defence chief Christopher Musa, who will hand them over to the government.

Mr Musa, who presented the victims to the Kaduna governor’s chief of staff, Sani Kila, said no ransom was paid for their rescue.

The CDS said that all Nigerians must take ownership of the operation for the security agencies to succeed.

Mr Musa said certain individuals had been trying to make it impossible for the government to succeed by sabotaging the efforts of the government. 

He added that the security agencies were working tirelessly round the lock to ensure Nigerians felt safe and protected.

The national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Adamu Laka, said the victims were kidnapped from their homes and farmlands in the Gayam, Sabon layi and Kwaga villages of Dan Musa LGA in Katsina.

Mr Laka said that troops of I Division, on Nov. 14, at about 3:00 p.m., successfully led joint operations leading to their rescue. He said the victims comprised 35 males and 23 females.

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that suspected armed bandits kidnapped the victims under the command of a notorious bandit called JANBROS.

(NAN)