The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that its troops, in collaboration with local authorities, rescued only 137 schoolchildren abducted at Kuriga in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the schoolchildren comprising 76 females and 61 males were rescued in the early hours of Sunday, March 24, 2024, at a location in Zamfara State.
Recall that terrorists on March 7, 2024 invaded LEA School Kuriga, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, and abducted 287 schoolchildren.
The federal government had directed the military to ensure the safe return of the schoolchildren.
According to the statement, in the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation, rescued the hostages.
Major General Buba the hostages are same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
He said the efforts would continue until other hostages were found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law,
The Defence media spokesperson added that troops are employing similar effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State.