11 kidnapped victims rescued in Zamfara

Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle has facilitated the unconditional rescue of another 11 kidnap victims without paying ransom.

He secured their release through the carrot-and-stick initiative of his administration.

Governor Muhammad received the rescued kidnapped victims on Saturday night at the Government House, Gusau.

Ten of the victims were male and a female from Bukkuyum local Government Area.

Muhammad explained the peace accord and reconciliation process with repentant bandits will be sustained in the state while the unrepentant ones will face the full wrath of the law.

He directed the victims should be taken to the hospital for medical attention before final release to their respective families.

Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammed Dauran, told the Governor the victims were released as a result of the peace initiative and stakeholders meeting summoned by Governor Matawalle with all critical stakeholders from Bukkuyum local Government Area on Thursday.

The rescued victims expressed delight and boundless gratitude to Matawalle whom they described as the peacemaker and bridge-builder between all the categories of people in the state.

The rescue of the victims, who hailed from Bukkuyum local Government, came days after Matawalle held a meeting on security with all the critical stakeholders from the local Government area to further discuss avenues of achieving peace and harmony.