How security operatives rescued Jamila, kidnapped Bauchi girl

The suspects arrested include four men and two women.  The security operatives also recovered sophisticated weapons from the suspects. Parading the suspects before newsmen at the headquarters Thursday night, the SSS disclosed that deadly weapons were recovered from the kidnappers’ den in Wunti Dada, a suburb of Bauchi where they held Jamila captive for two […]

The suspects arrested include four men and two women.  The security operatives also recovered sophisticated weapons from the suspects. Parading the suspects before newsmen at the headquarters Thursday night, the SSS disclosed that deadly weapons were recovered from the kidnappers’ den in Wunti Dada, a suburb of Bauchi where they held Jamila captive for two weeks.

The SSS Director told Weekly Trust that it was too early in the investigation to conclude that the suspects were members of the dreaded Boko Haram, but they said the two women arrested were the ones cooking for the girl. He added that they will be transferred to Abuja for further investigation since their offence includes the possession of firearms, a federal offence.

Jamila’s father, Ahmed Al-Mustafa said: “The two weeks during which Jamila was at the mercy of her kidnappers were the most traumatic for our family.”

Al-Mustafa expressed gratitude to God and the security agencies and the entire people of Bauchi for their prayers. The father, accompanied by Sadiya, Jamila’s mother, who witnessed the kidnapping, said following security advice, he rebuffed all entreaties by the kidnappers to collect a ransom.

“They called me and sent texts messages several times but I refused to answer them and kept my calm. As you can see, Jamila is physically and mentally okay. I thank those who offered prayers on the family’s behalf,” Al-Mustafa told Weekly Trust.

The SSS said since they received the news that Jamila was kidnapped, operatives from the service-organized joint patrols blocked all access in and out of the state capital to prevent the kidnappers from escaping with the little girl. An SSS source said: “We launched a covert operation that led us to their hideout and stumble on what we did not expect. We just stormed the residence. They were surprised to see us.”

The source said they tried to resist arrest. “But we overpowered them, raided the house and found the little girl inside. We also found guns, grenades, explosive devices that include General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) 221 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, military grenades and locally-made bombs and life jackets.”

On how he received the news that Jamila was rescued, Ahmed Al-Mustafa said he received a phone call from the SSS. “On my way to see them, they called me again and said Jamila was rescued. They gave her phone and she spoke to me. I asked who she was she said she is Jamila. I was relieved beyond imagination. I immediately began to thank God.”

Jamila, who looked calm and stable, recalled how the kidnappers snatched and took her away on a motorcycle, adding that her abductors did not manhandle her and fed her mostly with Indomie noodles.

Students and staff of the school attended by Jamila, International Secondary School, organized special inter-faith prayers of intervention on her behalf last week, praying God to touch the hearts of her captors to release her.

It can be recalled that Jamila was kidnapped from her mother’s car as she and her little brother were being taken to school. Jamilla’s mother was accosted by four gunmen who forcefully opened the car and made away with the girl, after attempting to grab a little boy before he ran off.