In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu Zango, said coordinated rescue operations had reached an advanced stage, raising hopes of a positive outcome in the coming days.
The retired military officer and his wife were abducted along the Matazu axis of the state, prompting Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to direct security agencies to prioritise their safe rescue alongside other victims held by bandits.
According to the government, preliminary investigations revealed that the abduction was a deliberate and targeted operation. Authorities said available evidence suggests the couple were monitored and trailed from Kaduna, their point of departure, before being kidnapped.
The state government described the incident as a troubling indication of evolving tactics among criminal groups operating in the region.
It noted that the apparent level of planning involved points to the activities of organised criminal networks, a development that is shaping ongoing rescue efforts.
“We are dealing with a targeted operation, which changes the dynamics of our response,” the government stated, adding that security agencies are deploying both technological tools and ground intelligence to track down the abductors.
The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safe return of the retired general, his wife and other victims in captivity, while pledging to bring those responsible for the abduction to justice.
It also appealed to members of the public to provide any useful information regarding suspicious movements or activities that may assist ongoing investigations.
The government said collaboration among the military, police and intelligence agencies had been strengthened to ensure a breakthrough without compromising the safety of the victims.
It urged the family of the retired general and residents of the state to remain calm, assuring them that all available resources were being deployed to secure the release of the captives.
