From Abdul Salaudeen Ilorin
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday received 23 abductees recently freed by the Nigerian Army.
Commending President Bola Tinubu and security agencies for their support, the governor congratulated the victims on their freedom and promised continuous efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
“We thank God that you were all freed, following the pressure from security forces. We also thank President Tinubu for his support and the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for working together to achieve this success,” the governor said at the Headquarters of 22 Armored Brigade during the brief ceremony.
“We are glad to see 23 victims freed and presented today. We thank the army and the medical centre here for looking after them since they were rescued.
“We have known their plight and I assure that government will support their rehabilitation. The challenges we are going through, I can assure you, are temporary. Like the General Officer Commanding, GOC, has said, it is either they (criminals) leave Kwara or they die here. This is a state of harmony.”
AbdulRazaq appreciated the army and the new brigade commander for the deployment of troops to get rid of the hostile non-state actors, pledging sustainable support to the armed forces.
“The GOC has been on ground for the past two weeks, and since he came, we have seen a turnaround. We have seen criminals leaving, with many of them arrested or terminated. Peace is now being restored to Kwara,” he said.
He said government will deploy forest guards immediately the army finishes its clean-up operation in the affected areas to maintain peace and pave the way for the return of farming activities.
The governor was received by the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade Sobi, Brigadier-General Nicholas Rume.
On the governor’s entourage were the Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Alhaji Abdullateef Alakawa, and the Senior Special Assistant on Security Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu.
Brigadier-General Rume acknowledged the support that troops have been receiving from the state government and pledged to continue to mount pressure on criminals until they leave Kwara State.
“Your Excellency, I thank you very much and we appreciate your efforts because without that, a lot of operations that have been going on would not have been possible.
“We promise you that we will continue to do our best until these miscreants leave this area. Let me quote what the GOC said when I arrived. His order is explicit. ‘It is either the bandits leave Kwara State or they die’. That is the only mandate I have and I will continue to do my best with my officers to achieve that.”
Pastor Obafemi, a victim who recounted his ordeal, said it was a very traumatic experience to be held against their wishes by criminals.
He thanked government and security agencies for saving their lives.
“I thank the governor and troops for their efforts which led to our rescue. God will give you enablement to press forward in this and overcome the people that are tormenting us,” Obafemi said.
