A photo showing the map of Zamfara, a state in north-west Nigeria.
Gunmen have secured the release of Alh. Bala Afuro Gusau, the father of the father of a popular businessman in Zamfara State, Hon. Sanusi Bala Sarkin Dawaki Maituta.
The victim was released on Saturday, the state government confirmed to Channels Television on Sunday via a statement.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, Bala was abducted a month ago by his kidnappers.
The commissioner explained that the victim secured his freedom unharmed, adding that the state government did not pay ransom to facilitate his release.
But a family source said the abductors initially demanded the sum of N150 million before bringing it down to N50 million.
The release comes about a month after Zamfara State Police Command secured the release of 11 kidnapped persons in the state.
In a statement issued on April 11, the police spokesman in the state, Muhammad Shehu, said the release was made possible following a collaboration with the police authorities and the State Ministry for Security and Home Affairs.
He noted that the 11 victims were released unconditionally after a group took them to a forest near Gobirawan Chali in Maru Local Government Area.
He said the release of the kidnapped victims was part of the ongoing peace process enunciated by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.
Zamfara has been experiencing series of attacks from suspected bandits who purportedly engage in illegal mining.
As part of efforts in restoring peace in the state, President Muhammadu Buhari on March 2 decalred Zamfara a ‘no-fly zone’ and banned all mining activities in the state.
The move, according to the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, is part of measures to tackle the security challenges witnessed in the north-western state.
Similarly, the state governor Matawalle has initiated peace efforts and engaged the bandits in dialogue to encourage them to surrender their weapons.
The efforts is paying off gradually as some of the bandits have renounced their old ways to embrace the peace efforts of the state government.
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