DHQ has provided details on how the abducted Kuriga students, Kaduna state, were rescued in Zamfara state
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has provided details on how the abducted Kuriga students, Kaduna state, were rescued, saying that it was through coordinated search and rescue operation conducted by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
The primary and secondary school students abducted on March 7, were rescued in the early hour of Sunday.
The explanation comes on the heels of an announcement by Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani late on Saturday night that the students had regained their freedom.
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The governor said: “In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I wish to announce that our Kuriga school children have been released.”
Media reports had suggested that bandits terrorizing Kaduna invaded LEA Primary School Kuriga and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga town, in Chikun Local Government Area of the state on March 7 and whisked away 287 students, including their principal, Abubakar Isah to an unknown destination.
The assailants later demanded for N1 billion ransom as the only condition for the release of the children.
Gen Buba said a total of 137 persons comprising 76 females and 61 males were rescued in Zamfara.
According to him, they would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
“Relatedly, it would be recalled that on March 21, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
“These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government.
“These efforts demonstrate the armed forces resolve to finding other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.
“These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.
“Troops are employing similar effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State.
“Justice await the culprits, as they can not go unpunished,” he said.
