The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have so far, rescued two teachers and five students of the Federal Government College Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State that were abducted by bandits on Thursday.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement of Friday, said the victims were rescued after a fierce exchange of fire with the criminals.
Nwachukwu said the troops had been on a hot pursuit of the kidnappers and bandits following the unfortunate abduction incident in the Birnin Yauri school.
He said the rescue followed an initial encounter with the abductors in the early hours of Friday after trailing the kidnappers through Riyao to Sombo community.
According to him, the kidnappers who had split into two groups fled, with one group conveying the abducted children , while the second group conveyed rustled cattle.
“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 fire fight 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,” he said.
Nwachukwu further disclosed that a female student was found to have given up the ghost as a result of exhaustion after the encounter.
He added that the rescued teachers and students would be handed over to the Kebbi Government.
He expressed the appreciation of the Nigerian Army to cooperation so far from good spirited citizens adding that the
the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, had directed the Commander to spare no effort until all the abducted persons are safely rescued and reunited with their families.
