Troops rescue kidnapped persons in Kaduna as N’West govs, Niger Republic parley on insecurity

Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have rescued seven kidnapped persons during a patrol around Birnin Gwari and Chikun Councils of Kaduna State.

The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made this known in a statement. Aruwan said the troops came under fire from bandits, while on patrol along the Birnin Gwari-Gayam-Kuriga-Manini axis. The troops returned fire and promptly subdued the bandits, who fled into the forests, leaving behind the captives in their custody.

He said: “The troops then rescued the seven victims, who are identified as: Joseph Ishaku, John Bulus, Gloria Shedrack and her four children (Jimre, Jonathan, Angelina and Abigail).

“The government of Kaduna State commended the troops and thanked them for their brave efforts in rescuing the victims. The seven victims have been reunited with their families.”

This came as four governors from the northwest and the governor of Maradi Region in Niger Republic, yesterday, held a high-level meeting on tackling insecurity in the region.

Governor Schiabou Aboubacar of Maradi declared open the multilateral meeting, which was attended by the governors of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi.

Aboubacar, who was also the convener, said the meeting would come up with solutions to security challenges in the Sahel region.
He said: “We are in serious trouble in this region. Everyone knows our problems are terrorists, who have denied us sleep. “Communities living around Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina that have borders with Niger Republic hardly sleep.

“Participants in this meeting are one family. Hence, we deem it necessary to sort ourselves out, to see how we can tackle the menace. Each state is doing its best in addressing the challenges, but it’s not enough. We have to come together to see how we can address the problem.”

Also speaking, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina said the state government is doing everything possible to tackle insecurity, especially at community levels.

He said the government has built the capacity of traditional rulers and local government administrators to deal with emerging real and potential threats in their areas.

“We also promote the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, as provided by the state multi-door court process. And we have also enhanced and promoted inter-security agencies’ liaison through establishment of joint operations and information-sharing platform,” Masari said.

He explained that the issue of cross-border transhumance and insecurity, occasioned by cattle rustling, armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom and proliferation of small arms, light weapons and ammunitions, have been the major problem.

In their separate remarks, Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi) expressed concerns over the perennial security situation. They expressed hope that at the end of the meeting, a lasting solution would be provided.