Over 137 school children, who were abducted by armed gunmen in Nigeria earlier this month, have been freed, as confirmed by Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna state, in a televised interview on Sunday.
Sani expressed joy over the children`s release, stating, "I am happy, the families are happy, we are all happy the children have been rescued." However, he mentioned the unfortunate death of a teacher due to unspecified complications during captivity.
The abduction occurred on March 7 when armed bandits on motorcycles stormed the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, Kaduna`s Chikun district, taking more than 300 students, according to state police reports.
Contrary to earlier reports, Sani asserted that all kidnapped children from the incident had been released, dismissing claims of a larger number of missing children as unfounded.
Kaduna state, bordering Nigeria`s capital Abuja, has faced recurrent kidnappings for ransom by bandits, witnessing several mass abductions in recent years.
In a previous update, Sani shared his interaction with the released children, highlighting their positive spirits. He mentioned plans for continued psychosocial counseling and medical care for the children.
Initially demanding a ransom of $620,000, the gunmen had threatened to harm all students if their demands weren`t met, as reported by a community member.
Nigeria`s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, coordinated security agencies` efforts, leading to the successful rescue operation, as stated by Sani. He commended the Nigerian Army for its courage and determination in degrading criminal elements and restoring security.
Sani expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continuous efforts in ensuring the safe return of the abducted children.
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