In a statement issued on Friday, Bala Zango, commissioner for information and culture, said ongoing operations had reached an advanced stage, raising hopes that the couple would soon regain their freedom.
The government said Governor Dikko Radda directed security agencies to prioritise the safe return of the retired army officer, his wife and other victims in captivity immediately after their abduction.
The state government said preliminary investigations indicate that the retired general and his wife were deliberately targeted by their abductors.
According to the statement, evidence gathered so far suggests that the couple were monitored and trailed from Kaduna before they were abducted along the Matazu axis.
The government said the precision of the operation points to the involvement of an organised criminal network, adding that the findings are guiding security agencies in executing a focused rescue mission.
The government said it remains committed to securing the release of the retired general, his wife and other victims.
Part of the statement read: “We are dealing with a targeted operation, which changes the dynamics of our response. The state is working around the clock, utilizing both technology and ground intelligence to close in on the abductors. Our primary goal remains the safe return of the General, his wife and other in similar situation.”
The government described attacks on retired military officers and other citizens as an affront to the state, while to residents to provide useful information that could assist ongoing investigations.
It said details about suspicious movements or activities before the abduction could help security agencies dismantle the criminal network responsible.
The state government added that it had intensified collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the police and other intelligence agencies to secure a breakthrough.
According to the statement, security forces have maintained surveillance and operational presence in the area where the incident occurred.
“We are confident that the ongoing high-level operations will yield a positive result very shortly,” the statement concluded.
