NSA Touts Non-Kinetic Approach as Kidnap Victims are Freed in Kaduna

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has delivered a significant boost to the government’s security strategy, announcing the successful rescue of two kidnapped women in Kaduna State without the payment of any ransom. In a Tuesday event, Ribadu handed over the rescued victims, Khadijah Shehu Magaji and Fatimah Shehu Magaji, to the Kaduna State Government, emphasizing that their freedom was secured through a “non-kinetic” approach. The rescue, which came after 33 harrowing days in captivity, is being held up as a major success for the Tinubu administration’s security policies.

The two women, who are married to the same husband, were abducted on August 18, 2025, from Makarfi town in Kaduna State. They were subsequently held deep in the Yadi Forest in the Kidanda area of Giwa Local Government. In a testament to the harsh conditions they endured, one of the victims, Khadijah, gave birth to a baby girl, whom she named Hafsat, while in the kidnappers’ den. According to the NSA, the kidnappers had initially demanded a staggering N500 million ransom, which was later reduced to N200 million. Ribadu’s emphasis on the fact that no ransom was paid underscores the government’s long-standing policy against financially rewarding criminal elements, a strategy that many believe is crucial to stemming the tide of abductions across the country.

The NSA’s “non-kinetic” approach, a centerpiece of his office’s strategy, relies on dialogue, intelligence gathering, and strategic intervention rather than solely on military force. According to Dependable NG, this method has been credited with a number of successful rescue operations and has received praise from various civil society organizations. As one report from a civil society group noted, dialogue and negotiation, when combined with robust intelligence, have proven to be highly effective in dousing tensions and securing the release of captives. This approach stands in contrast to previous strategies that often relied on brute force, which sometimes led to collateral damage or the killing of victims.

The success of this operation comes amidst a persistent and challenging security landscape in Kaduna State. The state has long been a hotspot for banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and communal violence. While the state government has often promoted its “Kaduna Peace Model” as a success story, data from security trackers still indicates that the state remains one of the most affected by banditry. The rescue of the two women from a forest in Giwa, an area notorious for its bandit activity, highlights the scale of the challenge still facing security forces. Ribadu’s mention of the collaboration between security agencies and the Kaduna State Government suggests that a coordinated, multi-agency effort is essential to achieving success in these complex operations.

In addition to the rescue, Ribadu also announced a significant breakthrough in the fight against urban crime. He revealed the arrest of two notorious armed robbery suspects identified as Ibrahim Mohammed (aka Alaye) and Adamu Mon’d. The suspects, who are part of a larger criminal network, have been linked to several violent crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and car snatching in and around Abuja. The NSA’s report on their capture revealed that they are believed to be responsible for the killing of a lawyer in Gareywa and a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) along the Gwagwalada axis. The reach of their network, which extends to Delta, Kaduna, Kano, and Kogi states, underscores the interstate nature of modern criminal syndicates and the need for a comprehensive, national approach to law enforcement. The handing over of the rescued victims and the announcement of the arrests demonstrate a concerted effort by the Office of the National Security Adviser to not only rescue victims but also to dismantle the criminal networks behind the insecurity plaguing the country.