News Investigators/ The 287 Students of Kuriga Secondary and Primary Schools abducted on March 7 have been released.
The governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani made this known on Sunday.
Mr. Sani, in a statement issued in Kaduna, expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the great feat.
He particularly thanked Tinubu for prioritising the safety and security of Nigerians and for ensuring that the abducted Kuriga school children were released unharmed.
“While the school children were in captivity, I spoke with Mr President several times.
“He shared our pains, comforted us and worked round-the-clock with us to ensure the safe return of the children.
“Special mention must also be made of our dear brother, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, for his exemplary leadership.
”I spent sleepless nights with Ribadu fine tuning strategies and coordinating the operations of the security agencies, which eventually resulted in this successful outcome.”
Mr. Sani said that the Nigerian Army also deserved a special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements could be degraded and security restored in the communities.
The governor also thanked all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children.
”This is, indeed, a day of joy. We give Almighty Allah all the glory,” an excited Sani declared.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that bandits had abducted the girls around 8.20 a.m. on March 7 after they stormed their LGEA Primary School, Kuriga in Chikun Local Government.
Also abducted were teachers.
The incident threw the nation into total confusion as many wondered how the bandits could move with such large number undetected.
An angry Tinubu quickly ordered the security agencies to put in everything possible to bring back the children
Early in the week, the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, rushed to Kaduna, met with relevant stakeholders and vowed to secure the release of the school children.
That promise came to fruition when the children were released Sunday morning.
The news of the release of the school children is expected to bring some relief to Nigerians in a country where kidnappers casually abduct both high profile and common citizens.
Earlier, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) revealed the students were rescued through coordinated search and rescue operation conducted by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies.
The primary and secondary school students abducted on March 7, were rescued in the early hour of Sunday.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, said a total of 137 persons comprising 76 females and 61 male were rescued in Zamfara.
“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,” he stated
Adding that: “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.
