Security officials in Zamfara State rescue 23 Gusau university abducted students and staff

SECURITY operatives in Zamfara State have announced the rescue of 23 students and workers kidnapped last September at the Federal University Gusau by armed gunmen and held in captivity since then.

Over the weekend, security agents said they rescued the captives near Kuncin Dutse, a village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Major General Adamu Laka, the coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, reportedly led the operation and the freed persons have been flown to Abuja.

General Laka presented the freed victims to the national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu earlier today after they were evacuated to Abuja for debriefing and medical check-ups before being reunited with their families.  Earlier last month, nine of the female students were released after spending 178 days in captivity.

These latest 23 persons released include 15 students and eight workers of the university, while one woman abducted in Funtua in Katsina State was also rescued. One of the parents of the abducted students confirmed the release of her daughter, saying she called her and informed her that she was being moved to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

All the released students and staff spent over 200 days in the terrorists’ camp following their abduction in September from their off-campus hostel in Sabon Gida, a community adjacent to the university campus in Gusau. Some of the original victims were rescued by security officials a few hours after their abduction.