The Nigerian Military says it has rescued 137 victims, who were kidnapped from LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State on March 7.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.- Gen. Edward Buba in Abuja.

He said the victims, 76 female and 61 male, were rescued in the early hours of Sunday, March 24, following a search and rescue operation with the collaboration of local authorities and government agencies.

He added that the rescued victims would be conveyed to Kaduna where they would be handed over to the state government.

The director said,” It would be recalled that, on 7 March 2024, troops received information that terrorists had invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State.

“During the incident unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted.

“Following the incident, the military committed to leaving no stone unturned until all the hostages were rescued.

“Accordingly, 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.

“The hostages are same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.

“The rescued hostages totalling 137 comprise of 76 females and 61 male.”

He further said, in a similar development, troops on March 21, rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada LGA of Sokoto State.

According to him, the hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government.

Buba said the efforts were a demonstration of the Armed Forces’ resolve to finding other hostages while tracking down the kidnappers.

“These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.

“Troops are employing similar effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State.

“Justice awaits the culprits, as they can not go unpunished,”he said.