Seventeen people, including children as young as one year old, have regained their freedom in Kaduna after a successful rescue mission coordinated by security forces under the direction of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Security expert Zagazola Makama announced the successful rescue via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
The victims were abducted on March 3, 2025, from Sarkin Fawa, a community in Niger State.
After weeks of intelligence-gathering and sustained pressure on the abductors, security operatives secured the victims’ release on April 9 at around 4:30 p.m., according to security sources.
Among those rescued were both adults and minors. The names released include William Ubadia and Samuel Ezekiel, as well as children such as Duza Ezekiel (13), Ishaku Ishaya (12), Sunday Ezekiel (8), Jessy Friday (6), Charity Ezekiel (9), and one-year-old Favour Ezekiel. The adults include Rebecca Ezekiel (32), Jummai Ishaya (32), Alice Ezekiel (35), and Victoria Ishaya (32), among others.
The rescued individuals were promptly taken to a hospital in Kaduna for medical evaluations and were confirmed to be in stable health.
Authorities have assured that the victims will be reunited with their loved ones soon.
