The Nigerian Army handed over 35 kidnap victims rescued from their captors in a Katsina State forest to Gov. Dikko Radda on Monday.
Commanding Officer, 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Katsina, Brig.-Gen. O.A Fadairo, handed the victims to the governor.
He said they were kidnapped by bandits in Tashar Nagulle and Nahuta in Batsari local government area of the state.
Mr Fadairo explained that the victims were rescued at Dumburum Forest after an intensive gun battle between soldiers and the bandits.
Responding, Governor Radda, thanked God for aiding the rescue operation which went without casualty either on the part of the victims or the security operatives.
He noted that success was being recorded in the fight against banditry in the state.
“Many terrorists in Katsina State have been killed and their camps dislodged and a lot of weapons recovered through the joint efforts of security operatives,” he noted.
He commended the army and other security operatives for their efforts in the fight against criminality in the state.
The governor stressed that his administration would continue to deal decisively with persons conniving with terrorists.
He said government had introduced a free medical programme for victims of banditry and an educational support for those who lost their parents to attacks by terrorists.
Mr Radda gave N100,000 to each of the 35 rescued persons to enable them to revive their businesses when they returned home.
Thirty-one of the rescued victims were abducted a week ago in Tashar Nagulle after which the terrorists demanded N60 million as ransom.
The four others were abducted at different times.NAN
