- By Halimah Olamide
The Defence Headquarters has opened up on Sunday how the over 280 pupils of Kuriga schools were rescued from their abductors.
The Defence Headquarters said the operation to free the pupils was a coordinated search and rescue one conducted by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said a total of 137 persons comprising 76 females and 61 male were rescued in Zamfara.
According to him, they would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
“Relatedly, it would be recalled that on March 21, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
“These hostages were handed over to the 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 track down the culprits responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State.
“Justice await the culprits, as they can not go unpunished,” he said