The 17 Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army in Katsina State, Brigadier General Babatunde Omopariola, has reiterated that opportunities remain open for bandits and violent extremists to surrender.
He, however, issued a stern warning to those involved in kidnapping to desist or face severe consequences.
Brigadier General Omopariola made this statement during a brief ceremony on Saturday, where nine rescued kidnapping victims were handed over to officials of the Katsina State Government.
Represented by the Brigade’s Chief of Staff, Colonel Yakubu Nwandiscas, Omopariola noted that the rescue operation was conducted using a non-kinetic approach.
The victims included five men and two nursing mothers with their two babies. They had been kidnapped from various local government areas in Katsina at different times and taken to Kaduna State by bandits.
In his remarks, Sa’idu Danja, the Senior Special Assistant to the Katsina State Governor on Victims of Banditry and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), praised the efforts of the troops and security agencies involved in the mission.
He recalled that a combined security team had recently rescued 11 victims in Batsari LGA on Thursday, followed by the successful rescue of 19 victims on Friday.
Danja stated, “These are some of the successes you have been recording as a result of your synergy. His Excellency the Governor, has been receiving cooperation from all angles of the security agencies and will give you all the necessary support and cooperation to achieve your desired result.”
One of the rescued victims, a 45 years old father of 15 children, Inusa Salisu, narrated that he spent 90 days in the hands of the bandits after they captured him while working on his farmland located five kilometres away from Sabuwa LGA of the state.
“The bandits, seven in their numbers, riding on five motorcycles, chased me and my grownup son.
“Within the 90 days period of our stay, we were eating animal feeds. They killed five people in my presence including my 20-year-old son. I didn’t touch water talk less of taking a bath within the period,” he explained.