The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has handed over 19 kidnapped victims rescued by security forces to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
The handover ceremony took place on Thursday at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
Among those rescued was Ambassador Gideon Yohanna and the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (retired), who had spent 56 days in captivity. The other 17 victims included a child.
Speaking at the event, Ribadu assured Nigerians that security forces will not stop until all criminals are eliminated and peace is fully restored.
“As a result of the work of our armed forces and other security services, we are able to rescue and bring back our own people,” he said.
“This time, it involves important personalities who served this country. We thank God for their lives, and we are grateful to those who made it possible.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa, also promised that security operations would continue, saying:
“This is an ongoing operation and we are doing it quite silently. We will go after the bad ones.”
The security agencies urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to help in the fight against crime.
