Nigerian army rescues 137 of 287 abducted schoolchildren, Nigerians seek proofs

Troops of the Nigerian army have claimed to have rescued 137 abducted schoolchildren and teachers from the LEA School Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The rescue claim comes after nearly three weeks of tension following the abduction of the victims by suspected terrorists on March 7, 2024.

The abduction, which shocked the nation, saw 287 pupils and teachers taken from their schools and marched into the forests.

The perpetrators demanded a ransom of N1 billion for their release, setting a payment deadline of March 27, 2024.

However, the Defence Headquarters revealed that the troops, with support from local authorities and government agencies, managed to rescue a significant number of the hostages before the deadline.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen. Edward Buba,  claimed that the release had been made in a statement released today. According to Gen. Buba, the rescued victims, comprising 76 females and 61 males, were liberated in the early hours of Sunday and are set to be conveyed to Kaduna, where they will be handed over to the state government.

The statement noted that the operation to free the hostages was a result of intense efforts by the military, who worked in collaboration with various agencies across the country.

The release announcement has sparked questions and raised concerns over the safety of schoolchildren in conflict-prone areas. With the claim of rescue, questions remain regarding the circumstances of the operation and the fate of the remaining hostages.

Meanwhile, the details surrounding the rescue operation remained murky, as Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani did not provide specifics regarding the release of the abducted schoolchildren.

This lack of clarity has led to queries from various quarters, including Adam Sanusi, son of the former Emir of Kano, who has called on the federal and Kaduna state governments for answers.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. However, locals have pointed fingers at bandit groups notorious for their involvement in mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the northern region.

Read: NDLEA Seizes Over 44,948.1kg of Illicit Drugs, Arrests Eight Suspects in Lagos, Edo, and Ondo

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