In a moment of immense relief, the schoolchildren abducted from the Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Chikun county in Kaduna State, have been freed. The news, announced by Governor Uba Sani in the early hours of Sunday morning, brings an end to a harrowing ordeal that gripped the country for weeks.
The children were taken hostage by gunmen on March 7, immediately after their morning assembly session. The abduction sparked national outrage and a desperate search effort involving security forces and local communities.
While the Governor did not provide more details surrounding their release, Abuja’s Defence Headquarters spokesman Major General Edward Buba said the pupils were rescued by the military with support from local authorities and government agencies.
Buba said 137 schoolchildren, 76 females and 61 males, were freed. TruthNigeria reported that 287 pupils were taken away in the attack. The authorities failed to disclose whether the N1 billion ransom demanded by the terrorists to free the schoolchildren was paid.
President Tinubu welcomed the development, saying it “reemphasizes the importance of collaboration between the federal government and states for expected outcomes, especially on matters of security.”
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
