About 142 people kidnapped in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been released in the middle of ongoing peace talks.
Reports confirmed that the victims were freed without conditions by a well-known bandit leader, Muhammadu Dansaadiyya, on Wednesday.
Security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama in a post on his X handle said the kidnapped victims had earlier been taken from several villages, including Gidan Gardawa, Kyambarawa, Maguru, Kurya Madaro, Kagara, Yankaba, Madira, and Dogon Daji in Kaura Namoda.
“The 142 victims regained freedom on Aug. 27 at about 8:30 a.m. They were immediately taken to General Hospital, Kaura Namoda, for medical checks, debriefed, and later reunited with their families,” the sources said.
Authorities say the release is part of ongoing non-military efforts by the federal government to bring back peace to the North West and secure the freedom of people still in captivity.
