Six months after they were abducted by bandits, four female students of Zamfara State College of Arts and Sciences (ZACAS) Gusau, have regained their freedom.
They were kidnapped along Bimini Magaji-Laura Namoda road in January, 2023, while returning from a wedding ceremony.
Recall that the abductors had released two video clips at different periods in which the victims were seen crying and appealing for help from the government and wealthy individuals for their freedom.
It was gathered that one of the victims lost her mother who died of shock after watching the first video clip.
The State Police Command confirmed that they were rescued by security operatives in the State.
In another development, a building of four bedrooms and ten shops was gutted by fire on Thursday, at Ile Olola Compound, Essa Junction along Olofa Way, Offa Local Government of Kwara State on Thursday.
Reports said the fire incident occurred at approximately 01:35 hours, destroying properties worth N39.6m.
According to the spokesman of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, in Ilorin, a distress call reported “a fire incident at Ile Olola Compound, Essa junction along Olofa way, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“The caller, Mr. Habeeb, alerted the authorities to the fire incident.
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“Upon receiving the emergency call, fire fighters promptly responded and turned out swiftly to the reported location.
“The incident involved a building comprising four bedrooms and 10 shops, of which the four bedrooms and three shops were affected by the raging fire,” the spokesman added.
He said the firemen at the scene displayed remarkable skill and efficiency, employing their prowess to contain the fire and prevent its spread to adjacent structures.
Hassan said, through their swift response and strategic firefighting maneuvers, they successfully reduced the menace of the fire, safeguarding nearby buildings from further damage.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was caused by a power surge, which ignited the inferno within the building.
As a result of the prompt action taken by the firefighters, the fire’s impact was mitigated, but the building still suffered substantial damage.
Out of the four bedrooms and 10 shops, the four bedrooms and three shops were significantly affected, leaving parts of the structure charred and unsafe for occupancy.
Director of Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, advised that to avoid similar incidents in the future, residents and property owners in the state should install and regularly maintain appropriate fire safety measures, including surge protectors, circuit breakers, and fire extinguishers.
Raising awareness about fire safety protocols in the state can also contribute to preventing such occurrences, he further advised.