The four kidnapped students of Zamfara College of Arts and Sciences, ZACAS, Gusau, have regained their freedom after seven months in bandits’ captivity.
The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, received the four women at the Council Chambers, Government House, Gusau on Thursday, August 3, 2023.
The victims, Jamila Yahaya Isa, Aisha Yahaya Isa, Ummulkhairi Musa, and UmmulKhairi Sani Umar, were kidnapped along Kaura Namoda – Birnin Magaji road, in January 2023 while returning from a wedding.
The women appeared in a two-minute-19-seconds video clip released by the terrorists a few weeks ago, appealing to the Governor to help in facilitating their rescue.
The mother of one of the victims was said to have died of shock after watching the video.
A statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, noted that the government has been worried since the release of the video clip which prompted a swift response leading to their freedom.
Lawal while receiving the rescued victims thanked Almighty Allah for making it possible to witness the freedom of the kidnapped women.
The Governor further stressed that the rescued women will be fully reintegrated into society and their needs provided.
“As the Chief Executive of Zamfara State, I want to express my utmost gratitude to Allah for the freedom of these ladies who were kidnapped some seven months ago. It is indeed a moment of happiness for the government and the families of the victims,” he said.
“I am calling on the victims to consider what happened as a test from the Almighty Allah. “Let it not in any way affect their lives, for they have a better future ahead.
“Zamfara State Government will do all it takes to ensure that the rescued victims receive the necessary medical attention and provide all their needs.
“My Government is determined to do whatever it takes to bring an end to the menace of kidnapping and banditry in our dear state.
“It is a collective responsibility; we must cooperate and always provide security with relevant information,” the Governor said.
Earlier, the Zamfara State Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Nuhu Umar, officially handed over the rescued victims to the Governor for onward handover to their families.
“On the 15th of January, 2023 four ladies were kidnapped by bandits. The kidnapped victims regained freedom through government intervention. The victims are Jamila Yahaya Isa, Aisha Yahaya Isa, Ummulkhairi Musa, and UmmulKhairi Sani Umar,” Umar said.
