Six students from Kuriga School who were kidnapped have been freed from the kidnappers’ hideout and are currently receiving treatment in Kaduna, according to the military.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) First Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, handed over 131 of their mates to the state government.
The military used both kinetic and non-kinetic methods to secure their release without paying any ransom.
The six rescued students, one male and five females, are undergoing treatment at the Darlet Barracks military hospital. They will later receive psycho-social therapy before returning to Kuriga.
During their captivity, the students were not harmed, and upon their release, they were reunited with their parents.
The rescued students arrived safely in Kaduna and appeared to be medically stable, although some had leg injuries from the long trek in the forest. They were provided with new clothes and shoes.
Governor Uba Sani praised the collaborative efforts of security agencies and cautioned against politicizing the issue of insecurity. He emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing security in Kaduna State.
“We should not politicise the issue of insecurity. It is not good to undermine the efforts of security agencies.”
” I want to caution the media and some elements in the society about permutation. The families of these children are already happy and they are celebrating”.
A student named Aisha confirmed that none of them were molested by their abductors, who had a strict policy against harming females. She expressed her ambition to study medicine.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) called for proactive measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future and commended the collaboration between stakeholders in the rescue operation.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that no ransom was paid for the students’ release and affirmed the government’s determination to combat kidnapping and hold perpetrators accountable.
He also addressed the issue of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, stating that no one is above the law, and individuals making reckless statements would be reprimanded.
“What I can tell you is that the government will not stop at anything to get any kind of information that it requires to solve our problems. Shiekh Gumi or any other individual for that matter, is not above the law.”
“When you make remarks, especially remarks that border on national security, it is incumbent on the security agencies to dig further into that, and they are doing just that. No one is above the law in this direction.”
