The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has formally handed over two rescued kidnap victims to the Kaduna State Government, reaffirming that their release was secured without the payment of ransom.
Ribadu, represented by the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, presented the victims—Khadijah Shehu Magaji and Fatimah Shehu Magaji—who had been in captivity for over a month. Both women are married to the same husband.
General Laka revealed that Khadijah gave birth to a baby girl, named Hafsat, while still in the kidnappers’ camp.
The victims were abducted on August 18, 2025, in Makarfi town, Kaduna State, and taken into hiding deep inside Yadi Forest, located in the Kidanda area of Giwa Local Government Area.
“For 33 agonizing days, these women endured severe hardship in captivity. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦500 million, which was later reduced to ₦200 million. However, through a non-kinetic strategy that combined dialogue, intelligence gathering, and carefully coordinated interventions, we were able to secure their safe release without the payment of ransom,” Laka explained.
He noted that the successful rescue, carried out on September 19, 2025, highlights the impact of non-kinetic counter-terrorism measures and the value of collaboration between security agencies and the Kaduna State Government.
“As we reunite Khadijah, Fatimah, and baby Hafsat with their family, this occasion should remind us of what can be achieved through unity, dialogue, and strategic engagement. The life of every Nigerian remains priceless, and we will continue to prove that terrorism and banditry cannot break the resilience of our people,” he added.
In a related development, General Laka disclosed that security operatives have arrested two notorious armed robbery suspects identified as Ibrahim Mohammed (also known as Alaye) and Adamu Mon’d, who were linked to the killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and a lawyer in Abuja.
