Five children of a former Accountant General of Zamfara, Abubakar Bello Furfuri, have regained their freedom seven months after they were abducted from the home of their parents in the Furfuri community, Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.
The bandits had abducted nine members of his family including two wives of the former Accountant General.
However, the other abductees were released, while the terrorists kept the five young ladies.
The bandits released a video to the social media in October showing the girls carrying sophisticated firearms and threatened to recruit them into banditry if the ransom they demanded was not paid.
The girls were released on Monday after payment of a huge amount money, PR Nigeria reports quoting local sources.
It was gathered that other abductees were also released alongside other the seven children of the ex-Accountant General.
The were presented to Gov. Bello Matawalle by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 10, Mr Bello Sani-Deljan, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Mr Kolo Yusuf on Monday evening.
A combined effort of the Police and other security operatives, however, led to the rescue of the girls unharmed.
Gov. Matawalle commended the security forces for efforts made and urged them to put an end to banditry in the state.
He noted that intelligence reports showed that the girls were abducted successfully with support from informants who were either family members or close associates.
The governor appealed to citizens of the state to “courageously fight informants by reporting suspects to the authorities without fear.
“Without informants, bandits will be strongly incapacitated and will easily be defeated,’’ the governor said.
He directed that the girls be taken for proper medical checks and counselling before reuniting them with their family.
(NAN)
