Armed bandits operating in Zamfara State have released Colonel Rabiu Yandoto (retired) and his two children after nine days in captivity.
Yandoto and his two children were abducted by bandits along the Gusau-Tsafe road when he was returning to his hometown on the second of January 2022
Speaking to journalists after medical check at the One Brigade Garrison Clinic in Gusau, Yandoto said ransom was paid before they were released.
He however, did not disclose the amount paid to secure their release but reports say N10million was paid to the abductors.
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He described his abduction as a blessing to Zamfara State because he was able to gather first-hand information on the operational activities of the bandits which he said will be useful.
“This kidnapping may be a blessing to Zamfara State because I was able to see with my eyes, all these unwanted bandits especially the one that was listed by the Chief of Defence Staff, he had a meeting with me in the bush, we discussed so many issues,” he stated.
The former Commander of Zamfara Road Transport Agency (ZAROTA) said he was able to interact with one of the wanted bandits’ leader in the state
“I was given an opportunity to talk, so there are so many messages and why they did not take drastic or bad action against me was because they have a lot of messages which they want to pass to the country, some are top secret, some are official and some are an ordinary message,” he added.
When asked whether his abduction was politically motivated, Yandoto said, “I can’t say so because as a Muslim, whatever happens to you, the first thing is to believe that whatever God has written on your destiny will come to be.”
Yandoto and his two children were received by the Deputy Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Musa Bawa at the Army medical facility in Gusau.
