The Joint Taskforce of Operation Hadari Daji in the North-West Zone on Friday engaged bandits who stormed a secondary school in Kebbi State.
Nigerian Army troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji went on hot pursuit of the kidnappers and bandits following the abduction of students of the Federal Government College, Yawuri, Kebbi State.
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They have so far rescued two teachers and five students after an exchange of fire with the criminals.
According to a statement by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, 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 a.m. and engaged them in a firefight leading to the rescue of the teachers and students.
Similarly, The Deputy Force Commander, Air Commodore Abubakar Abdulkadir, had also on Friday told reporters that the troops engaged the abductors in a gun battle, Channels reported.
The rescue followed an initial encounter with the abductors in the early hours of Friday after trailing the kidnappers from Yawuri through Riyao to the 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 troops were also said to have recovered 800 cattle rustled by the bandits.
As a result of the heated duel in the early hours on Friday, the bandits were forced to abandon five students and a teacher.
According to the statement: “The gallant troops are still on alert in order to rescue the remaining abductees still in captivity.
“Sadly, a casualty was recorded during the exchange as one of the students who was unidentified later died, probably due to exhaustion.
The rescued teachers and students will be handed over to the Kebbi State government.
The statement further said “The Nigerian Army appreciates the cooperation so far from good-spirited citizens and wishes to solicit for more. The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya, has directed the commander to put in all efforts to rescue all the other abducted persons and reunite them with their loved ones.” Nwachukwu added.
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