No fewer than 10 women including a 4-year-old baby have been released by repentant bandits in Katsina State, an official statement said on Wednesday.
The state government is currently engaged in dialogue with bandits terrorising the state in order to restore peace and normalcy to the affected areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victims regained their freedom few hours after the government released seven bandits who were in detention.
A statement issued by Mr Abdullahi Yar’adua, the Director Press in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the State, said those released were kidnapped two weeks ago from Shimfida village in Jibia local government area.
Gov Aminu Masari has in the last one week, been meeting with the bandits to broker agreement for lasting peace in the state.
Part of the agreement reached was for exchange of captives, of which five people abducted by the bandits were released on Tuesday followed by the release of seven bandits in government detention.
The LGAs suffering from the activities of bandits are Dandume, Sabuwa, Faskari, Kankara, Safana, Danmusa, Batsari and Jibiya.