…one female student found dead
Nigerian troops have rescued some of the teachers and students of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yawuri in Kebbi State, who were abducted on Thursday.
A statement issued Friday by the Army said that troops of Operation Hadin Kai, rescued two teachers and five students.
It added however that they found one of the female students dead.
The statement by Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu , the Director of Army Public Relations, said the rescue followed an encounter with the abductors.
It added that the troops were still in pursuit of the fleeing bandits.
Below is the statement:
“Nigerian Army troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji who have been on hot pursuit of kidnappers and bandits following an unfortunate abduction incident in Federal Government College, Birnin Yawuri yesterday 17 June 2021 have so far, rescued two teachers and five students 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”, the statement read in part.
It continued that, “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 firefight 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 rescued teachers and students will be handed over to the Kebbi State Government.
“The Nigerian Army appreciates the cooperation so far from good-spirited citizens and wishes to solicit more. 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.”
The gunmen attacked the school in the hours of Thursday and abducted an unspecified number of female students, and five teachers.
They also killed a police officer and wounded another in the attack.
The Kebbi Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleke Adeyinka-Bode, confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday.
“The attack took place around 12 pm, and during the crossfire between police and the bandits some students had been injured and one police officer was injured and another one was killed. These are the facts I can give you, for now,” the Police chief said.
