The National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu has said the Federal Government has so far rescued over 1,000 kidnap victims without paying a ransom.
The former EFCC Chairman said this on Monday when he received 22 students and staff of the Federal University of Gusau, Zamfara State, rescued on Sunday.
You will recall that daredevil bandits had, on September 22, 2023, invaded the institution and abducted over 30 students and members of staff.
However, seven of the students were rescued while two escaped, leaving 22 others in captivity of the bandits.
On Sunday, the 22 kidnapped victims, comprising 15 students and seven workers of the university, were rescued in an exercise coordinated by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
Speaking while receiving the students in Abuja, the NSA appreciated the security operatives for rescuing the students without losing anyone of them or paying any ransom.
Ribbadu stated that the latest rescue is yet again a success story in the efforts of the Tinubu government to free all those being unlawfully held in captivity.
This comes as President Bola Tinubu has said his government will no longer pay ransom to bandits and Boko Haram terrorists.
He stated this in an article on Monday, in commemoration of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls ten years ago.
The President stated that the resolution of kidnapping through ransom payment only perpetuates more abductions, saying that extortion rackets must be squeezed out of existence.
