Nigerian Army troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji have been on a hot pursuit of kidnappers and bandits who abducted some students and teachers from Federal Government College, Birnin Yawuri on Thursday, June 17, 2021
A statement signed by the new Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu on Friday stated that two teachers and five students have so far been rescued after a fierce exchange of fire with the criminals.
“The rescue followed an initial encounter with the abductors in the early hours of today 18 June 2021 after trailing the kidnappers from Yawuri through Riyao to Sombo community, where the kidnappers who had split into two groups fled”
“With one group conveying the abducted children , while the second group conveyed rustled cattle.”
According to the statement, “the land troops in conjunction with elements of the Nigerian Air Force, who provided close air support during the rescue mission intercepted the two groups at about 2.30 am and engaged them in a fire fight leading to the successful rescue of the teachers and students.”
The troops also recovered 800 cattle rustled by the bandits.The gallant troops are still on the heels of the kidnappers in order to rescue the remaining abductees still in captivity.
Sadly, a casualty was recorded during the exchange. A female student was found to have given up the ghost as a result of exhaustion, the statement added.
The rescued teachers and students will be handed over to the Kebbi State Government, he stated. Nwachukwu also said the Nigerian Army appreciates the cooperation so far from good spirited citizens and wish to solicit for more.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff Maj Gen Faruk Yahaya has directed the Commander to spare no effort until all the abducted persons are safely rescued and reunited with their loved ones.