Olayemi Esan
The Gallant Troops of Quick Response Force of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Friday have foiled attempt by armed bandits to kidnap students of Turkish International Secondary School located in Rigachikun, Kaduna State.
Director Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima revealed this in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja.
Yerima said, the troops mobilized to protect the school from the bandits, based on intelligence report on the impending abduction of the school children.
He explained further that, while the troops were securing the secondary school, another distress call came that bandits had stormed the Federal School of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area of the state with aim of kidnapping the staff and students. The troops swiftly moved to Afaka and decisively engaged the armed bandits.
Army spokesman disclosed that, troops were able to rescue 180 persons, comprising of 132 male students, 40 female students and 8 civilian staff.
"The bandits were said to have broken into the institution by breaching the perimeter fence of the school. The rescued students have been evacuated to a safe place while the injured are presently receiving medical attention at a military facility" he said.
"Meanwhile combined team of Army, Air Force, Police and DSS are currently combining the forest in pursuit of the bandits" Yerima said.