The National Security Adviser to the president, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the Federal Government has freed many kidnapped victims in the country without paying any ransom.
He also said since the coming of this administration, the country has not had any organised terrorist attacks, adding most of the roads hitherto unsafe for commuters are today secure for travellers at any time of the day.
Ribadu, said this while delivering a paper titled, “Navigating the Maze: Addressing Multi-Dimensional Insecurity Challenges in Northern Nigeria” at the combined convocation lecture of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto on Thursday.
He said, “Since assuming office, we have successfully freed over a thousand individuals, many of whom were villagers held captive for as long as two to three years.
“We have successfully secured the release of abducted students from the Federal University of Gusau and school children in Kuriga, among others.
“These results were achieved without paying any ransom. Our approach utilizes evidence as the foundation of our non-kinetic strategies.”
He also expressed concern over the high level of poverty rate in Northern Nigeria, especially the Northwestern states.
He said as of 2019, the region had the highest poverty rate in the country, surpassing the national average of 40.1 per cent and that about 87.73 per cent of the population lives in poverty.
He further disclosed that unemployment rates in the Northern region can exceed twenty per cent, presenting a stark contrast to the more industrially diverse and economically vibrant southern regions.
He said, “The illegal arms market in Northern Nigeria has seen a marked increase in demand and supply.
“Criminals and traffickers have developed sophisticated networks to transport illegal arms across Nigeria, deploying innovative methods to circumvent security checks.”