The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has handed over 16 recently rescued kidnap victims to the Zamfara State government.
The victims, abducted from Zurmi, Duran and Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State on April 22, 2024, were freed in two separate operations on June 27, 2024, in the Shinkafi and Tsafe LGAs.
A statement signed by Abu Michael, Head of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, revealed that the rescued individuals included eight males and eight females.
According to Michael, they were successfully recovered by a team of security operatives from the NCTC and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.
While presenting the victims to Zamfara State officials, led by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Abubakar Nakwada, the NSA reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to eradicate kidnapping and other serious crimes in the country.
Ribadu called on all citizens and residents to support the security agencies in their efforts to achieve a safer Nigeria.
Recall that a few weeks ago, 22 abducted students and staff from the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, were also rescued through joint efforts of security agencies coordinated by the NCTC under the leadership of Major General Adamu Laka, including a victim from Sokoto State.

Mr Abdul Muhammed and other counsel to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, in the ongoing Kano Emirship tussle, have withdrawn their legal services before the State High Court.
The applicants in the matter—the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly, through their counsel, Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, filed a motion ex parte on May 27, seeking the court to restrain Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs.
The respondents are Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero; Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero, Emir of Bichi; Dr Ibrahim Abubakar II, Emir of Karaye; Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa, Emir of Rano; and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, Emir of Gaya.
Others are the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army.
When the case came up for hearing, Muhammed, counsel to Ado-Bayero, informed the court that he had an affidavit of fact dated July 3, attached with a notice of appeal and a motion of stay of proceedings.
He urged the court to stay proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the motion at the appeal court.
“My Lord, we were served with the court processes this morning by the applicants,” he said.
He sought an adjournment to enable them to respond, but the court refused to grant his prayers.
“My Lord, myself and other counsels representing the first respondent apply for the withdrawal of our legal services and appearances,” he said.
Counsel to the 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents, Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, moved his application for an extension of time dated July 2 and counter-affidavit in response to the originating motion.
He urged the court to set aside the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, adding that due process was not followed.
Tanko-Kyaure also urged the court to dismiss the applicant’s application at a cost of N1 billion.
Counsel to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sunday Ekwe, told the court that he had nothing to present, adding that they left everything to the discretion of the court.
Responding as counsel to the applicant, Mr Eyitayo Fatogun urged the court to discountenance the respondent’s affidavit of facts according to Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 of the Court.
“The motion refers to a proposed notice of appeal, not a notice of appeal. It shows that the affidavit of facts is just to delay the proceedings. My Lord, the business of today is the hearing of all pending applications.”
Fatogun urged the court to dismiss the third, fourth and fifth respondents’ applications on the issue of the Kano Emirate Repeal Law because the issue is not before the court.

Earlier, while delivering a ruling, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, refused the application for a stay of proceedings filed by the respondent.
“The respondent did not disclose any special fact to warrant any stay of proceedings,” Adamu-Aliyu said.
The judge adjourned the matter until July 18, to rule on the application for extension of time, notice of preliminary objection, setting aside ex parte order, joinder application, and judge to recuse herself, among others.
The court on May 27, granted an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents themselves, servants, and privies, from parading themselves as emirs in the interest of peace in Kano.
On May 23, the Kano State House of Assembly dissolved the state’s four newly created emirate councils. Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

Suspected bandits, who kidnapped a female judge and her four children in Kaduna State, have demanded for N300m, after killing her eldest son.
The judge and her sons were reportedly abducted at their residence in the Mahuta area of Kaduna on 23 June.
The kidnappers, numbering up to 15, stormed the residence of the judge at night when her husband, Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, a medical doctor, was away on duty.
However, a human rights lawyer, and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, on Wednesday, confirmed in a statement that the kidnappers have threatened to kill her remaining sons if the ransom was not paid in time.
Ballason said the abductors killed the 14-year-old son of the judge in captivity when the family couldn’t pay the demanded ransom.
According to her, the boy, identified as Victor Gimba, the first son of the judge, was shot dead on July 2.
“The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom.
“On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the terrorists shot dead Victor Gimba, the first child of the judge, when the ransom demanded could not be obtained,” she said.
She also called for the protection of the judge and her family, urging the government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and security agencies to take urgent action and ensure the judge and her children are rescued.
Similarly, the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association has issued a statement condemning the incident, while urging the security agencies to rise to the occasion.
NMA’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Shuaibu Joga, expressed shock that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.
He said the NMA would be calling for an emergency SEC meeting on Thursday and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also for the release of their other doctors kidnapped six months ago.
“Following the incident, we visited the husband and interacted with him and he informed us that the kidnappers had made a demand of N300 million to secure their release.
“While the security agencies had been informed and negotiations with the kidnappers were ongoing, we received the shocking news today that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.
“In response, we are calling for an emergency SEC meeting today and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also the release of our other doctor kidnapped 6 months ago.
“We call for calm from members and request all to stay safe while we engage the necessary security organs to end this needless wanton evil,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the state government or the state police command.