By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Saturday said that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, have rescued the kidnapped 16 Almajiris pupils, with a woman in Sokoto state.
The Military High Command also revealed that it has released a banner of wanted terrorist and their cohorts.
The banners, it said, would be deployed in strategic areas across the country, stressing that the deployment of the banner is for ease of recognition and arrest of the wanted persons.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who announced the rescue in a statement, also noted that rescued hostages have since been handed over to the Sokoto State Government for further action.
Gen. Buba recalled that on 9 Mar 2024, terrorist invaded and kidnapped 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman in Gada LGA of Sokoto State.
On 21 March 2024, he said, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation rescued these hostages.
According to him, “The rescued hostages have been handed over to the Sokoto State Government for further action. Additionally, the armed forces is extending all of its efforts and resources to find other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes. These efforts would continue until they are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law”.
The military, he said, would not rest until all kidnapped hostages are rescued.
“Furthermore, troops are deploying same effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State on 14 March 2024. Indeed, to curb the freedom of action of terrorist and the perpetrators of insecurity across the country,” the Director, Defence Media Operations said.
