The defence headquarters revealed that students from Kiriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were rescued in Zamfara State, according to Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations. Buba stated that 137 hostages were rescued, as per a statement released on Sunday.
Buba said:
“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 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 trackdown the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State. Justice await the culprits, as they cannot go unpunished.”