The military has said that the manner in which three hostages abducted from the quarters of National Eye Centre Kaduna a year ago were rescued are indicative of terrorist willingness to surrender.
Major General Edward Buba the Director of Defence Media Operations disclosed this in a statement announcing the release of abducted Dr Ganiyat Popoola and a teenager Master Folaranmi Abdul Mughiy, on Thursday.
They were abducted by terrorists on September 27, 2023 along with Squadron Leader Nurudeen Abiodun Popoola from the Doctors quarter.
The statement read as follows:
“Recall the abduction of one, Dr Ganiya Nurudeen Popoola, along with her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Abiodun Popoola, and a teenage, Master Folaranmi Abdul Mughiy, on 27 September 2023.
“The trio were abducted from their home (Doctors’ Quarters) at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna. Following the abduction, troops subsequently rescued the husband on 8 March 2024.
“Additionally, troops kinetic operations resulted in the rescue of several other hostages in terrorists captivity in the North Centre theatre of operations. However, the operations were mostly futile with regards the above abducted persons. All the same, at about 1700hrs of 30 October 2024, troops through none kinetic efforts secured the release of the abducted Dr Ganiyat Popoola and the above named teenager.
Though the details of their release by the terrorists remains classified due to ongoing operations. It is significant to state that their release is indicative of overtures by several terrorists leaders and their combatants to surrender to troops. It would be recalled that similar situations is ongoing in the North East, and it is therefore, not uncommon in war situations and a welcomed development .
“Overall, more details about the development will follow in due course. Nevertheless, these terrorists have a window of opportunity to surrender or be killed in the battlefield. On the whole,ending the insecurity plaguing our nation requires a collective effort of everyone and not just military action,” the statement added.