Gallant troops of the Nigerian Army have responded in harsher language to bandits and terrorists operating in the Kebbi/Zamfara/Niger axis.
Recall that a yet to be determined number of students of Federal Government College (FGC), Yauri, Kebbi State, were abducted by bandits o Thursday.
The troops took the battle to the abductors in their enclaves in the forests of Sakaba Local Government area of Kebbi State, and by the time the smoke from the guns settled, as many as 80 of the bandits were feared killed.
One of the abducted students was, however found dead yesterday during the military raid, although five other students and two of their teachers were rescued.
Governor Atiku Bagudu last night confirmed the rescue of some of the students and their teachers.
He said the others would return safely soon.
The police, in an update on Friday, said the gunmen hijacked the official vehicle of a high court judge in the state for use during the abduction.
The police said the actual number of students seized during the attack was yet to be ascertained.
According to reports, on Friday that soon after the Thursday attack on the school, security personnel supported by Yansakai vigilance group members went in pursuit of the bandits, raiding their hideouts in forests and villages located in the state and neighbouring Niger State.
The enclaves raided include Uddu, Rijau, Sabon Gari Ushe, and Warari.
The Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), which detected the bandits’ enclaves, facilitated the smooth coordination of the troops’ operations.
Some suspected gang leaders were also arrested.
The bandits reportedly tried to resist the military attack, but could not withstand the superior firepower.
Apart from those killed, some others were injured while the rest fled.
In its own account of the raid of the bandits’ enclaves, the army confirmed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued two teachers and five of the abducted students.
It also said one of the female students was found dead.
The Director Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement in Abuja that the rescue of the captives followed an encounter with the abductors.
His words: “Nigerian Army troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji, who have been on a 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 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.
‘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 for 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.”
Also speaking on the encounter, the Deputy Force Commander, Joint Taskforce of Operation Hadari Daji, Air Commodore Abubakar Abdulkadir, said the bandits were forced to abandon seven of the abductees by the heat of the gun battle.
Abdulkadir said: “In the early hours of this morning, we came across the kidnappers. They came to our blocking point and we engaged them.
“At that point, they abandoned five of the students and one of the teachers. Unfortunately, I think we lost one of the students.”
