The 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Katsina State, says synergy and collaboration with relevant security agencies led to the rescue of a renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Suleiman and five other persons from captivity.

Brig.-Gen. Lukman Omoniyi, the Brigade Commander, disclosed this during a news briefing on Wednesday in Katsina.

“Immediately after the cleric and the other victims were abducted, the Chief of Army Staff gave the brigade a marching order to carry out a rescue operation in order to rescue the kidnapped victims.

“Instructively, the Nigerian Army Directorate of Military Intelligence provided actionable intelligence and constant guidance for the brigade in that regard.

“A surveillance as well as tactical lines of operations were orchestrated in concurrency by the brigade with relevant security agents,’’ he said.

He said that finally led to the rescue of the victims during the early hours of Wednesday.

He said the victims are in good health condition as ascertained by the medical examination already conducted on them at the brigade’s medical centre.

The commander, therefore, urged residents of the state to continue to provide timely information to enable security agents to safeguard their lives and property.

The victims were kidnapped on March 14, 2019, at Sheme-Kankara road on their way back from Kebbi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that nothing was offered to the kidnappers as ransom before the rescue of the victims.