Army confirms rescue of four abducted Kaduna students

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops of Operation Thunder Strike have rescued the remaining four students of Government Day Secondary School Gwagwada in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who were abducted on their way to school on October 10.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Officer,1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col Ezindu Idimah, who confirmed the development on Monday night, said  that the students have been handed over to their  parents at Gurmi village.

It would be recalled that hoodlums terrorising Kaduna/Abuja highway on October 10, kidnapped the 10 students of the school while on their way to school. 

However, the troops immediately rescued six out of the 10 students while the bandits escaped into the forest with the four.

“On Monday October 14, at about 6 am, following a tip off from a reliable source, troops raided the hideout of the bandits and successfully rescued the remaining 4 students without any injury,” Idima said.

According to him, during the rescue operation, the bandits ran into the bush with gunshot wounds while abandoning the students after they had engaged the troops in a gun duel.

Idimah explained that Operation Thunder Strike was a Defence Headquarters operation with troops drawn from the Army, Air Force, Police, State Services and Civil Defence Corps.

The spokesman, who said the General Officer Commanding 1Division, Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has hailed the performance of troops and reiterated the commitment of the Division in bringing about peace and tranquility to its area of responsibility, assured that despite the toughness of the tasks, the nation should count on the loyalty and commitment of officers and soldiers to deliver.