No fewer than 45 abduction victims have regained their freedom in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State after negotiations between the terror gang and state government under the canopy of Operation Safe Corridor peace accord.
The recovery was led by a member representing Bakori in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Abdurrahman Ahmad Kandarawa, an engineer who championed efforts to secure the release of the captives held by bandits for an extended period.
A trending video shows one of the abductors revealing that the agreement was honoured due to commitments made by both sides.
Hon. Kandarawa, who facilitated the negotiations, cited similar scenario in international peace efforts, like the Gaza-Israel agreement.
“Even in the world, peace agreements are made to ensure coexistence,” he said. “There is nothing wrong in making peace to secure a lasting and peaceful future for our people.”
The victims – men, women and teens were abducted from Guga in Doguwar Dorawa Fulani settlement camp and Gidan Danmayaki villages. They regained their freedom on Monday through a negotiation channel linked to a bandit leader identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication and security analyst, the victims were freed around 2pm and received by Engr. Kandarawa.
They were then transferred to the Comprehensive Health Centre in Bakori for assessment of their physical condition after prolonged captivity.
Makama also claimed that the bandits emphasized that the measure followed fulfilled government and security agencies’ obligations, even urging the government to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
Meanwhile, two out of the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State have escaped from their captors.
Sources close to the school confirmed the escape of the two girls, according to the BBC pidgin.
It was learnt that the girls were seen at the school premises on Tuesday morning but no one knew how they escaped from their captors.
However, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu has landed in Kebbi to galvanize troops of Operation Fasan Yanma to rescue the girls.
