Troops of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday succeeded in rescuing 18 female kidnapped victims from their captors and handed them over to the Katsina State Government.

The Brigade Commander, 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Katsina, Brig.- Gen. Oluremi Fadairo, said that the soldiers took a rescue operation to the bandits’ enclaves at Yan-Tumaki and Dan-Ali forests.

He explained that the troops successfully engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, after which they successfully rescued the victims.

Mr Fadairo then handed over the victims to the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Mu’azu.

He stressed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to continue to work for the restoration of permanent peace in the state.

The commander charged the personnel under the brigade to sustain such rescue operations to ensure that all other kidnap victims were freed.

Responding, Mr Mu’azu restated the maximum commitment of the government to restore permanent peace in the state.

Mr Mu’azu explained that Governor Dikko Radda had invested hugely in the security sector, adding, “the investments have been yielding positive results.”

The commissioner commended the military and other security agencies for their courageous service towards restoring peace in the state and urged them to maintain the tempo.

He, therefore, advised the bandits, kidnappers and other criminals to repent immediately or face unpalatable consequences.

The commissioner equally assured security agents that the government was making necessary efforts to rescue the women kidnapped on their way to a wedding in Sabuwa Local Government.

He further advised the people especially in the frontline local governments to avoid night travels for their safety.

Mr Mu’azu also urged people of the state to always assist in providing useful information about criminals and their hideouts.

The commissioner later presented N100,000 to each of the rescued victims on behalf of Mr Radda.

The rescued female victims were kidnapped at different times from Karaduwa, Sayaya, Dangani and Wawar-Kaza communities of Matazu, Musawa and Kankara Local Government Areas.

One of the victims, Firdausi Bishir,   a 13-year-old JSS two student, said that she was abducted from Sayaya and had spent 91 days at the bandits’ den.

She thanked the Almighty Allah, who through His infinite mercy, the soldiers were able to rescue them.

The teenager also thanked the governor for giving them the money to establish business after returning to their homes.

(NAN)