•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
Nigerian Air Force Special squad has rescued seven kidnapped Chinese expatriates kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists in Kaduna.
This was disclosed in a statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information,Edward Gabkwet saying that the rescued nationals were kidnapped in June 2022 by terrorists while working on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki ,Gurmana Ward of Shiroro local government area of Niger State.
“In what could be described as a daring and clinical military operations, Special Forces (SF) under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, carried out a rescue operation in the early hours of 17 December 2022 leading to the rescue of 7 Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists,” the statement read
“The rescued Chinese victims are believed to have been kidnapped in June 2022 by terrorists while working on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government, Niger State.
“The Combat Search and Rescue operation, which consisted of 35 Special Forces was conducted in the cover of night at Kanfani Doka and Gwaska general Areas leading to the terrorists abandoning their enclaves, weapons and kidnapped Chinese victims while fleeing for their lives due to the superior fire power of the special forces.
“After the successful operations, the 7 Chinese victims were flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation were 2 of the victims were stabilized.
Subsequently, the 7 victims were flown to the NAF Base Medical Hospital, Kaduna for further medical investigations.”
In his reaction,the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao congratulated his personnel for the success recorded.
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He commended the Commander of the 271 NAF Detachment, Birnin Gwari and his men for their continued determination and commitment, even in the face of danger, as they make inroad into the final fringes of terrorists’ enclaves in Kaduna State and the Northwest in general.
“I am very proud of what our Special Forces in Birnin Gwari and elsewhere have continued to achieve and I remain confident that we will soon free all areas of terrorists and their activities,” he said
Air Marshal Amao also enjoined Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminal elements and those supporting them.
Reacting,Kaduna State Governor,Nasir El-Rufai in a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan,said the rescue operation excited the Governor who commended the force’s gallantry.
He said, “The Kaduna State Government has warmly commended the Nigerian Air Force for a clinical operation this morning which resulted in the rescue of seven Chinese nationals who were kidnapped in June by terrorists in a neighbouring state.
“According to a report from the Nigerian Air Force, Special Forces under the 271 NAF detachment conducted the operation in Kampanin Doka and Gwaska areas of Birnin Gwari LGA and successfully rescued the seven expatriates who have been conveyed to a secure facility.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed satisfaction at the report, and commended the Chief of Air Staff, as well as the Commander and men of the 271 NAF detachment for the daring operation by the Special Forces.
“Citizens will be updated on further developments,” he said.