Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, in the early hours of yesterday, secured the release of 10 persons kidnapped by bandits 14 weeks ago in Gwaram community of Talata Mafara Local Government Area.
Among those freed were three men, including the father of one of the abducted Jangebe schoolgirls, four women and three children.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers, Iliya Gwaram, father of one of the abducted Jangebe schoolgirls, who was also kidnapped, said he was shocked to see his daughter among the kidnapped schoolgirls when they were herded into the abductors’ den.
He said he quickly told his daughter not to act as if they knew each other, and that they were able to keep their relationship a secret while in captivity.
He said: “I have been in captivity with these other people for more than three months when on that Friday morning, l saw the schoolgirls being brought into where we were camped by our abductors.
“At first, l didn’t know who they were or where they were coming from, until l saw the face of my scared daughter looking at me.
“I quickly told some of the girls who were brought along with her and sat near me to tell my child not to show any indication that she even knew me.
“The girls were brave enough and they kept our little secret up to the last day of their four days stay with us.
“l never cried in the whole of my life like l cried the day the girls were taken back because l felt it was the last time l would see my daughter.“Fortunately and unknown to me, my daughter informed Governor Matawalle of our whereabouts and the poor health conditions we were, which led to our freedom today (yesterday) as facilitated by the governor and his security people.“ (Vanguard)