Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has facilitated the unconditional release of 11 kidnapped victims from their abductors on Saturday night, November 21.
A statement issued by Jamilu Iliyasu Magaji, the Press Secretary to the governor, on Saturday, November 21, stated that the victims were rescued without ransom payment but through the ‘carrot and stick’ initiative of the state government.
‘Carrot and stick’ is a metaphor for the use of a combination of reward and punishment to induce a desired behavior.
Iliyasu explained that government officials started negotiations with the bandits immediately they received distress calls that the victims had been abducted.
While receiving the rescued victims on Saturday night at the Government House, Gusau, Governor Matawalle assured that his administration will not rest on its oars until total peace is achieved in all parts of the state.
The Governor explained that 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.
Governor Matawalle directed that the victims should be taken to the Hospital to ascertain their health status before their final release to their respective families.
While presenting the kidnap victims to the governor, the state Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, reiterated that many of the bandits are now repenting from their criminal ways and accepting the peace and reconciliation accord introduced by the governor.
The rescued victims, 10 males and a female from Bukkuyum local Government Area of the State, expressed delight and boundless gratitude to the governor for securing their release.
The rescue of the victims comes few days after Governor Matawalle held a meeting on security with all the critical stakeholders from the local Government Area in order to further discuss avenues of achieving peace and harmony.
The victims were received in the presence of some members of the National Assembly from the state which include Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Senator Hassan Muhammed Nasiha, and his counterpart of Zamfara West Senatorial District, Alh. Lawal Hassan Dan Iya Anka, as well as some senior Government officials.
See some photos of the kidnap victims below;
