National security adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday handed over two women rescued from kidnappers to their families.
Ribadu also announced the arrest of two suspected armed robbers, Ibrahim Mohammed (aka Alaye) and Adamu Mohammed, responsible for the killing of a divisional police officer (DPO) in Gwagwalada and a lawmaker in Gareywa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He said the apprehended robbers also specialised in kidnapping and car snatching, with a network spread across Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Nasarawa states.
The NSA, who was represented by the national coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, said the rescued victims, Khadijah Shehu Magaji and Fatimah Shehu Magaji, were rescued on September 19, after spending 33 harrowing days in the kidnappers‘ den.
According to the NSA, the rescued victims, who were co-wives, were abducted on August 18, in Makarfi Town, Kaduna State, and taken deep into Yadi Forest, in the Kidanda area of Giwa local government area.
He said: “For 33 harrowing days, these women endured unimaginable hardship in the hands of their captors.
“While held captive, Khadijah gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, whom she named Hafsat, under incredibly difficult circumstances.
“The kidnappers initially demanded an outrageous ransom of 500 million naira, later reducing it to 200 million naira. However, through our non-kinetic approach, anchored on dialogue, intelligence gathering, and strategic intervention, we secured their freedom without the payment of any ransom.
“Their rescue on 19 September 2025 demonstrates not only the effectiveness of non-kinetic strategies but also the resilience and unity of our security architecture when we work hand-in-hand with partners.”
Ribadu noted that the rescue of the victims has demonstrated the federal government‘s unwavering commitment to non-kinetic strategies in addressing security challenges across our nation.
“The life of every Nigerian is priceless…Let this moment remind us of what we can achieve when we choose dialogue over violence, strategy over chaos, and unity over division.
“Together, we will continue to prove that terrorism and armed banditry will never defeat the spirit of our people or the resolve of our nation,” Ribadu said.
