The schoolchildren abducted from the Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Chikun LGA in Kaduna State, have been freed.
The news, announced by Governor Uba Sani in the early hours of Sunday morning, brings an end to a harrowing ordeal that gripped the country for weeks.
The children were taken hostage by gunmen on 7 March, immediately after their morning assembly session.
The abduction sparked national outrage and a desperate search effort involving security forces and local communities.
While the Governor did not provide more details surrounding their release, the Defence Headquarters spokesman Major General Edward Buba said the pupils were rescued by the military with support from local authorities and government agencies.
Buba said 137 schoolchildren, 76 females and 61 males, were freed whereas the media reported that 287 pupils were taken away during the attack.
The authorities failed to disclose whether the N1 billion ransom demanded by the terrorists to free the schoolchildren was paid.
Governor Sani expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu “for prioritizing the safety and security of Nigerians” and his role in securing the children’s freedom.
He also commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Nigerian Army for their contributions.
The release, however, does not erase the underlying security concerns in the region. Kaduna State, along with other parts of northern Nigeria, has witnessed a surge in kidnappings and violence in recent years.
The attack on the Kuriga schools highlighted the vulnerability of educational institutions in the State known as Nigeria’s centre of learning.
President Tinubu welcomed the development, saying it “reemphasises the importance of collaboration between the federal government and states for expected outcomes, especially on matters of security.”
“The National Security Adviser, the Security Agencies, and the Kaduna State Government must be commended for the dispatch and diligence with which they handled this situation.”
Ezinwanne Onwuka, senior staff reporter and columnist with WAP is a Nigerian-based writer and content developer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her interests include reading, writing, researching and graphic designing.
Latest posts by By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter) (see all)
previous
Celebrating Late Mrs. Grace Nwosu’s Virtues of Courage
next
