The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS Gen. Christopher Musa on Saturday accused some unnamed individuals of frustrating the concerted efforts of the government at ending insurgency activities in the country.
Gen Musa who spoke in Abuja after receiving 58 rescued kidnapped victims from the National Security Adviser, NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for onward transmission to the Kaduna State Government however assured that the individuals would not be allowed to have their ways.
He said, ” You can see from the people, the women, the children, both girls and boys, and the little one.
“The question you want to ask is why would somebody kidnap these kinds of people? If you see them, they are barely just providing.
“And that is to tell you that there are individuals that on their own are trying to make it impossible for the government to succeed.
“They are doing everything possible to sabotage the efforts of the government. That will not happen.”
Gen Musa pointed out that contrary to the belief of many Nigerians, not all who are involved in banditry joined willingly.
According to him, some of them were conscripted, adding that the troops would ensure the perpetrators face the wrath of the law.
“I want to also inform Nigerians that it is not everybody is part of this. Some of them were conscripted and forced into it, and it is those who are with them.
“We are going after those perpetrators, and they will not be let free.
“For the innocent blood they have killed, for those that have restricted their freedom, we will get them back, and they will face the law. I assure Nigerians that we’re not taking anything lightly”.
Speaking on how the victims were rescued, Gen Musa instited that no kobo was paid for the victims to regain their freedom.
He appealed to citizens to give the security agencies the needed support in the ongoing fight against insecurity.
According to, “It’s a joint effort. We’re able to do that through non-kinetic means of getting across. No penny was paid for these individuals,”.
“And now I want Nigerians to understand that if we do not come together to work, it will make it extremely difficult for us to succeed. Success depends on all of us working together. It’s a whole-of-society approach”.
Speaking , the National Coordinator National Counter Terrorism Center, Maj Gen Adamu Laka disclosed that preliminary investigation had revealed that the victims were kidnapped by suspected armed bandits under the command of a notorious bandit called JANBROS.
According to him, “during the kidnap, the victims were made to trek for hundreds of Kilometres to the thick forest of Birnin Gwari.
“The government provided them with all the necessary assistance required to stabilise them for subsequent handing over to ONSA for rehabilitation and immediate medical checkups, where they were examined, and six were admitted.
“However, the six admitted victims have recovered and joined us for subsequent handing over to their respective families,” he added.
On his own, the Chief of Staff to Kaduna State Governor, Sani Limankila thanked the security agencies and called on all Nigerians to team up with security agencies to end kidnapping.
The victims were kidnapped from their homes and farm lands from the Gayam, Sabon layi and Kwaga villages of Dan Musa LGA of Katsina State.
The victims, comprising 35 males and 23 females, were rescued on November 14 this year by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
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