Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has vowed that terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs will find no safe haven anywhere in the country, declaring that the federal government will intensify its relentless onslaught until peace is fully restored.
Ribadu made the declaration in Abuja on Tuesday while handing over 128 hostages rescued from the clutches of bandits in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State. The victims — men, women, and children — were freed in two waves of coordinated military and intelligence operations earlier this month.
Speaking with a tone of finality, Ribadu stated:
> “Let me be unequivocally clear: this work will continue. There will be no respite in our operations. There will be no safe haven for those who terrorize our citizens. We will hunt them, we will find them, and we will bring them to justice — or they will meet the same fate as the many kingpins already neutralized by our forces.”
The NSA praised the Nigerian military, intelligence services, and security agencies for what he described as a “crushing blow to the networks of terror that seek to undermine our peace.”
Ribadu stressed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic measures in the war against insecurity — combining force with dialogue, rehabilitation, and community-based strategies. He noted that beyond the rescue of victims, trauma care, psychosocial support, and long-term rehabilitation remain top priorities.
“Each rescue is a victory for the Nigerian people. Healing is as important as the rescue itself,” Ribadu said, assuring Nigerians that victims would be fully reintegrated with their families and communities.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant and provide security forces with timely intelligence, describing public cooperation as “the lifeblood of national security.”
The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, explained that the operations took place in two phases:
August 14: 42 individuals — 14 males, 27 females, and a toddler — were rescued.
August 19: 88 individuals — 34 males and 54 females — regained freedom.
Tragically, one child in the second group died due to illness linked to the harsh conditions of captivity, while one rescued woman gave birth prematurely after regaining freedom. The newborn, according to Laka, is receiving urgent medical care.
Since their rescue, the victims have been under the care of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), receiving medical treatment, trauma counseling, and psychological rehabilitation before being handed over to the Zamfara State Government for family reintegration.
The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, commended the courage of the security forces and urged the rescued victims to see their freedom as a chance to rebuild their lives. He encouraged them to embrace education and resilience in the face of adversity.
Ribadu concluded with a firm assurance to Nigerians:
> “This rescue is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader security strategy to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace across our nation. We will not stop until every Nigerian can sleep with both eyes closed.”
PIONEER NEWS 