By Linus Aleke and Cross Udo
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday narrated how the 137 school pupils, abducted from LEA School Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were finally rescued in Zamfara State by a joint team of military, state government agencies, and community leaders.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, in a statement, said the strategy employed by troops of Operation Hadarin Daji led to the rescue of 16 Almajiris pupils and a woman.
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 the same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State. The rescued hostages totalling 137 comprise 76 females and 61 males. They were rescued in Zamfara State and 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 find 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 efforts to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in the Okuama Community in Delta State. Justice awaits the culprits, as they cannot go unpunished”.
*Teacher died during rescue mission, pupils undergoing medical attention- Kaduna Gov Sani
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has said the only causality recorded was the school teacher, who died due to some complications while in the abductors’ enclave.
He denied the involvement of the Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in the safe return of the abducted Kuriga pupils.
The governor, who featured on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, clarified that the 137 schoolchildren abducted on March 7, from the Chikun Local Government Area of the state by marauding bandits have been rescued by the military in collaboration with local authorities from neighbouring Zamfara State, where the hostages were moved by their kidnappers.
He said, “Contrary to reports, 137 schoolchildren, and not 287 schoolchildren, were abducted from the LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, Kuriga, about four weeks ago, the Governor confirmed.”
The governor dismissed speculations making rounds in some quarters that ransom was paid, stressing that Gumi was not involved in the rescue of the pupils.
“All those speculations you are hearing today are a figment of some people’s imagination. I can tell you that without any fear of contradiction. There was nothing like Gumi in this operation. I can tell you. I won’t undermine the efforts of our Armed Forces.”
The Governor, however, noted that a teacher who was kidnapped alongside the pupils couldn’t make it out alive as he developed some complications while in captivity.
He commiserated with the family of the deceased teacher and consoled the families of the released schoolchildren.
He stressed that no forest in Kaduna was under the grip of the bandits adding that the military has assured him that they would block the link between Kaduna and Zamfara to avoid the movement of kidnapped victims within the two states along the border.
*Henceforth, we’ll ensure safety of our schools, says Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has expressed excitement over the news of the release of the Kuriga school children in Kaduna State and emphasized the importance of collaboration between the federal government and states for expected outcomes, especially on matters of security.
While welcoming the cheering news, the President commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), Security Agencies, and the Kaduna State Government “for the dispatch and diligence with which they handled this situation”, noting that “incipient urgency, meticulous attention, and tireless dedication are critical to optimal outcomes in cases of mass abductions.”
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, also welcomed the release of pupils of a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State, commending all the parties to the feat for their valiant effort.
The President assured Nigerians that his administration is deploying detailed strategies to ensure that our schools remain safe sanctuaries of learning, not lairs for wanton abductions.
