By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Sunday narrated how the 137 school pupils, abducted from LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State, were finally rescued in Zamfara State by a joint team of military, state government agencies and community leaders.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, in a statement, said that the strategy employed by troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, which led to the rescue of 16 Almajiris pupils and a woman was also employed.
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The statement read in full: “It would be recalled that , on 7 March 2024, troops received information that terrorists had invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State. During the incident unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted. Following the incident, the military committed to leaving no stone unturned until all the hostages were rescued. Accordingly, in the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation rescued the hostages.
“The hostages are same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State. The rescued hostages totalling 137 comprise of 76 females and 61 male. They were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action. Relatedly, it would be recalled that on 21 Mar 24, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada LGA 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 killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State. Justice await the culprits, as they can not go unpunished”.
Earlier on Saturday while announcing the release of the school children, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, said, “In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I wish to announce that our Kuriga school children have been released”.
In a statement personally signed by him, the Governor expressed special appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for prionitizing the safety and secunty of Nigenans and particularty ensuring that the abducted Kuriga school children are released unharmed.
He said that while the school chiidren were in captivity, he spoke with Mr. President several times, adding “he shared our pains, comforted us and worked round the clock with us to ensure the safe return of the children”.
According to him, “Special mention must also be made of our dear brother. the National Secunty Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu for his exemplary leadership. | spent sleepless nights with him finetuning strategies and coordinating the operabons of the security agencies, whuch eventually resulted in this successful outcome”.
The Nigerian Army, he said, deserves special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements can be degraded and security restored in communities.
“We also thank all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children. This is indeed a day of joy. We give Aimighty Allah all the glory,” he concluded.
