Governor: Kaduna teacher still in captivity

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says a teacher at the Government Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was not among the students rescued by the military.

The Star had reported that Sani, in the early hours of Sunday, March 24, 2024, announced the release of the abducted students, noting that they were released unharmed.

The governor later disclosed that 137 students were abducted by gunmen following an attack on the school on March 7.

However, Sani, in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday night, said a teacher did not return because he was sick in captivity.

He said: “137 children were released. That is the number.

“Sadly, one person had not returned. That is the teacher.

Kaduna gov: 137 students kidnapped, not 287

“We had an unfortunate incident – the teacher could not make it because he had some complications.

“He was sick, that is the information we got from the military. But the rest of the children, all of them have gotten back home safely.”

The Defence Headquarters had earlier said the abducted victims were rescued through coordinated search and rescue operations conducted by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies.

The DHQ, in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed that a total of 137 persons, comprising 76 females and 61 males were rescued in Zamfara State.

Buba noted that the students would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.

The defence spokesman added: “Relatedly, it would be recalled that on March 21, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

“These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government.

“These efforts demonstrate the armed forces resolve to find other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.

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

The Star