The Nigerian Army has handed over 131 out of the 137 rescued Kuriga school children to Kaduna State Government while the remaining six including a male and five females students are still receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Kaduna.
The General Commanding Officer GOC, 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major General, Mayirenso Saraso handed over the children to Governor Uba Sani at government House Kaduna.
General Saraso explained that, no ransom was paid, adding that both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches were applied in the rescue of the schoolchildren.
“The 131 pupils and students who arrived Government House Kaduna at about 2:07 Pm in three Coaster and two 14-Seater Hiace buses appeared medically stable, except for few of them who were seen limping, with apparent leg injuries”
While presenting the students to Governor Uba Sani, Major General Saraso said, the security forces successfully rescued the 137 abducted children.
“The abducted Kuriga school children have in the early hours of yesterday Sunday 24th March 2024, been safely rescued after spending about 16 days in captivity”
“The students were initially received and administered first aid at the Nigerian Army Troops Forward Operating Base Dansadau, in Zamfara State before being served refreshment and subsequently conveyed from there under escort to Kaduna this morning/afternoon”
“In all, there were 137 children and one staff member making 138 persons altogether that were abducted from the co-located schools on the ill-fated day. But unfortunately the staff member, Mr Abubakar is not here with us today because he died while in captivity.
“Finally, on behalf of the entire rescue team, I wish to sincerely thank and acknowledge the support and strategic guidance of Mr President, Bola Tinubu through the Ministers of Defence, NSA, the CDS and the Service Chiefs/Heads of other Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, and of course, not forgetting the Government and good people of Kaduna State as well as the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army who jointly and severally contributed in one way or the other towards the successful rescue efforts and safe return of the Kuriga School Children without payment of ransom’ the GOC said.
Meanwhile receiving the students, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State lamented the propaganda trailing the freedom of the school children over payment or non payment of ransom in the rescue efforts.
Malam Sani noted that, the most important aspect of the issue, the abducted school children have regained freedom, which is the joy of Kaduna State Government.
“I want to make one clarification here; when this incident happened, some of us have been very encouraging with the efforts of the security agencies because we are working with them closely, sharing alot of intelligence report and we have been giving information and that is why we are here today.
“I also want to caution insecurity merchants and conflict merchants in Nigeria to be cautious with their utterances because before the release of our children alot of people have been coming with alot of permutation how these children were released, what happened”
“The important thing for us in Kaduna is that the children are here with us. This is more important”
According to him, protecting lives and property is the most important agenda of his government.
Meanwhile, the school children who were scheduled to be reunited with their parents during a dinner on Monday night, would be taken to Kaduna State Women and Children Centre for Psycho-social therapy before they would be taken back to Kuriga at a later date.
They students were clad in new dresses and styrofoam with crocs shoes provided by their authorities.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
