A housewife, Murja Maharazu, and her day-old daughter were among the 15 kidnapped victims released by repentant bandits to the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari.
The governor received the victims, who were mostly women and children, at a ceremony held at the Katsina Government House on Sunday.
The Press Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abdullahi Yar’adua, confirmed the development to Northern City News.
It was learnt that Maharazu gave birth to the neonate a few hours before they were freed from captivity by the bandits.
Maharazu and other victims, who hail from the Jibia Local Government Area of the state, were kidnapped from Mallamawa village 45 days ago.
The bandits reportedly kept them in one of their hideouts until Masari’s intervention.
Speaking shortly after receiving the victims, Masari said the next level of the dialogue with bandits would involve the disarmament of the repentant bandits.
He explained that modalities for the success of this phase were already being worked out in conjunction with the governors of Zamfara and Maradi in Niger Republic.
The freed captives were subsequently handed over to the Chairman, Transition Committee, Jibia Local Government Area, Alhaji Haruna Mota, for reunion with their respective families.