Troops rescue more abducted Kebbi school victims

• Abductors contact parents

The Nigerian troops have rescued three more students and a teacher who were among dozens of people kidnapped from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, last week.

This came as the abductors have contacted the parents and relations of the kidnapped people.

Members of Operation Hadarin Daji, with the support from the Air Force, rescued the four at Makuku in Kebbi, Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said on Sunday.

That brings to 11 the total number of students and teachers rescued since the abduction last Thursday night.

The troops also killed one bandit and recovered nine motorcycles and four handsets from the fleeing kidnappers.

Although an unspecified number of teachers and students were abducted from the school, a total of three teachers and eight students have so far been rescued.

They were rescued on Friday and Saturday by the army, after a firefight with the kidnappers.

The army spokesman said additional troops had also been deployed to dominate the forest and deny the bandits freedom of action.

Meanwhile, Isah Arzika, Chairman of Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Isah Arzika, has said the abductors of students have contacted the parents.

He said the kidnappers contacted the parents of the students and the family members of other abductees to inform them that their children were in their custody.

He said the bandits did not demand ransom.

He, however, added that the bandits had not made any contact again after the rescue mission by security agencies.

He said, “Since the security agencies have swung into action on the bandits, we have not made fresh contact with the parents and relatives of the students and teachers still in their captivity.

“When we made our first contact two days ago, precisely on Thursday, they did not demand any ransom. Instead, they told the parents and relatives that they only wanted to establish contact with them and inform them that their children are with them.

“As I am talking to you, two of our teachers have regained their freedom. Already, seven schools on the frontline in that area have been closed and more will be closed if we realise the situation is not safe for the teachers and students.

“There was communication from them, but none of them asked for a kobo. They only said they wanted to establish contact that the abductees are in their custody.

“It was yesterday (Friday) that the security agencies swung on them and since then, there was no contact again.”