The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said the release of Dr Ganiyat Popoola by terrorists was an indication of their willingness to surrender to the troops.
Popoola was kidnapped along with her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and a teenager, Master Folaranmi Mughiy, on September 27, 2023.
The trio were abducted from their home at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna.
Following the abduction, troops subsequently rescued the husband on March 8, 2024, while efforts to rescue the doctor proved futile.
However, in a statement on Thursday night by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the doctor and the teenager were rescued through a non-kinetic approach on October 30.
He added that the details of their release by the terrorists remain classified due to ongoing operations, noting that their release showed the willingness of the terrorist leaders to surrender.
Buba said, “Additionally, troops’ kinetic operations resulted in the rescue of several other hostages in terrorist captivity in the North Centre theatre of operations. However, the operations were mostly futile for the above-abducted persons.
“All the same, at about 1700hrs of October 30, 2024, troops, through non-kinetic efforts, secured the release of the abducted Dr Ganiyat Popoola and the above-named teenager.
“Though the details of their release by the terrorists remain classified due to ongoing operations. It is significant to state that their release is indicative of overtures by several terrorist leaders and their combatants to surrender to troops. It would be recalled that similar situations are ongoing in the North East, and it is, therefore, not uncommon in war situations and a welcomed development .”
He noted terrorists have the opportunity to surrender or be killed.
Buba said, “Overall, more details about the development will follow in due course. Nevertheless, these terrorists have a window of opportunity to surrender or be killed on the battlefield. On the whole, ending the insecurity plaguing our nation requires a collective effort of everyone and not just military action. “