AbdulRazaq receives 23 freed abductees, lauds Army for rescue
By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday received 23 abductees who were recently freed by the Nigerian Army, taking the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support and successful operation.
The handover ceremony took place at the 22 Armored Brigade Headquarters, where the Governor expressed his gratitude for the victims' freedom and promised the state's continuous commitment to ridding Kwara of criminal elements.
Addressing the freed victims, Governor AbdulRazaq thanked God for their release, which he attributed directly to pressure from the security forces.
He specifically acknowledged the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and praised the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their coordinated success.
"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," the Governor said, assuring the victims that the government would provide support for their rehabilitation.
He asserted that the current challenges are temporary, echoing the strong commitment from security leadership: "It is either they (criminals) leave Kwara or they die here. This is a state of harmony."
Governor AbdulRazaq specifically appreciated the Army and the new Brigade Commander for the decisive deployment of troops, pledging sustainable support to the Armed Forces.
He noted that since the General Officer Commanding (GoC) had been on the ground, events had dramatically turned around, with criminals being arrested or terminated, leading to the restoration of peace in Kwara.
The Governor also announced that the government would deploy forest guards immediately after the Army concludes its clean-up operation to maintain peace and pave the way for the return of farming activities in the affected areas.
Earlier, the Commandant of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, acknowledged the essential support the troops have been receiving from the state government, emphasizing that many successful operations would not have been possible without it.
General Rume pledged to relentlessly pursue the criminals until they are completely rid from Kwara State. He quoted his GoC's explicit mandate: "It is either the bandits leave Kwara or they die."
A victim, Pastor Obafemi, recounted the traumatic experience of being held against their will by the criminals. He profoundly thanked the Governor and the security agencies for saving their lives, offering prayers for their continued success. "I thank the Governor and the troops for the efforts which led to our rescue. God will give you enablement to press forward in this and overcome the people around us that are tormenting us,” Pastor Obafemi concluded.