Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, has welcomed the release of two Kaduna-based journalists, who were abducted from their homes on the outskirts of Kaduna last weekend.
The two journalists, Abdulgafar Alabelewe from The Nation newspaper and AbdulRaheem Aodu from Blueprint newspaper, along with their wives and children were released by bandits on Saturday night.
The bandits had invaded their Dahono Community in the Millennium City area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state
Alabelewe also serves as the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kaduna State.
A statement issued on Sunday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris praised the security agencies for the swift rescue of the kidnapped victims.
While receiving the rescued journalists and their family members from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the minister expressed sympathy to the two families and encouraged Nigerians to maintain their trust in President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the security agencies.
“We are most grateful for 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.
Earlier, Ribadu disclosed that the five victims were rescued due to a coordinated efforts by security agencies, resulting in a swift search and rescue operation.
GIK/APA
Nigerian minister receives two rescued journos, family members
