Freed journalists: Information Minister Salutes NSA, others
By Lynn Adda
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has commended c the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and other security agencies for ensuring the two Kaduna based Journalists who were abducted from their homes in the outskirts of Kaduna last weekend.
The Minister made the commendation when he received the two journalists, AbdulGafar Alabelewe of The Nation newspapers and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint newspapers, from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in his office in Abuja.
The two journalists were released along with Mr Alabelewe’s wife and two children.
Alhaji who expressed happiness over the speedy rescue of the victims, expressed his sympathy to the two families.
“We are most grateful of what you have done. We are aware that this is part of your ongoing effort to ensure that all kidnapped victims are rescued alive and reunited with their families.
“I want to urge Nigerians to keep faith with the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our security agencies. The security agencies under the coordination of the NSA are working tirelessly to ensure that all those who have been taken into unlawful custody are freed without paying any ransom,” he said.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had earlier, said the five victims were rescued following combined efforts of security agencies through a swift search and rescue operation.
One of the rescued victims, Mr Alabelewe thanked the NSA and his team for the swift intervention.
“The rescue mission which brough us out of the bush yesterday gave us hope in our country and gave us confidence to believe that the government is serious about tackling this problem of kidnapping. I never thought that within a week of our kidnap we could get out.
“We are grateful that the government swung into action and ensured that we were released,” he said.
This information is contained in a Press Release by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
