How We Rescued Abducted Kuriga Pupils In Zamfara – Military

The military high command,On Sunday provided details on the collaborative effort between troops and local communities to rescue over 137 schoolchildren abducted from LEA School Kuriga in Kaduna’s Chikun Local Government Area.

This successful operation occurred within 48 hours of another rescue mission in Gada LGA of Sokoto State, where 16 pupils (Almajiris) and a woman were freed.

The abduction of the Kaduna pupils by suspected terrorists, who then held them in the forest, had sparked national outrage.

The terrorists demanded a ransom of N1bn by March 27, 2024, threatening to harm the captives if not paid. Major-General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, provided an update, stating that 137 victims were rescued, including 76 females and 61 males.

Although it was not clarified whether a ransom was paid, the operation involved joint efforts with local authorities and government agencies, combing through Zamfara forests until the victims were rescued early Sunday morning.

While the troops had handed over the rescued victims to the Sokoto State Government, Buba said the rescued Kaduna schoolchildren will also be handed over to Kaduna State government.

He said, “It would be recalled that, on March 7, 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 March 24, 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 of 76 females and 61 males were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.”

He noted that the recent success of the troops was a testament to their resolve to rescue kidnapped victims across the country, adding that similar efforts have been put in place to track down those behind the killing of soldiers in Delta State.

“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 Okuama Community in Delta State,” Buba said in a statement.