The Department of State Services has rescued four abducted students from captivity, securing their freedom after weeks in bandits’ custody.
The operation marks another breakthrough for security agencies in ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks and secure the release of victims without yielding to ransom demands.
It was gathered that the successful rescue operation was carried out last night in Zamfara State, days after DSS operatives secured the release of a professor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who had also been abducted by criminals.
A security source aware of the rescue operation disclosed on Thursday that the students were freed during a carefully coordinated intelligence-driven operation carried out by DSS operatives.
According to the source, no ransom was paid for their release, while one suspected kidnapper was arrested during the mission.
“The operation was executed based on actionable intelligence, leading to the successful rescue of the victims and the arrest of a suspect linked to the abduction,” the security source said.
Meanwhile, The Guild reports that the rescued students were among a group of six abducted by bandits who invaded their off-campus hostel in the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namod on June 3 and forcefully took them away.
Two of the victims had earlier regained their freedom, leaving four others in captivity.
The source said security personnel intensified surveillance and intelligence gathering following the earlier release of the two students, eventually tracking the kidnappers and securing the freedom of the remaining captives.
“The sustained pressure mounted by security operatives played a critical role in achieving this outcome. The students have now been reunited with their families,” the source added.