Soldiers save kidnapped victims as search for missing students goes on

Troops from Operation HADIN KAI have freed six people, including two infants. This happened days after they were kidnapped from farms in Mussa, a community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Nigerian military and a community leader shared this update on the rescue.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported earlier that six women and two babies were taken by suspected insurgents while they were working on farms between Mussa and Huyim communities on June 28. This was just a day before gunmen attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and kidnapped many students.

On Saturday, Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Mohammed Goni, said troops rescued four adults and two infants during their ongoing search-and-rescue operations related to the hunt for the abducted students from Lassa.

Captain Goni said they found the victims at Talakawa in Chibok Local Government Area. This rescue followed steady air and ground operations that were backed by intelligence.

A community leader, who had earlier shared details about the farm abduction, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday that the rescued victims were indeed among those taken from Mussa farming community.

The community leader stated that the victims had returned to their families after regaining their freedom.

Captain Goni mentioned that the rescued victims were taken to a safe place where they received medical check-ups, relief supplies, and other humanitarian aid before plans were made for them to reunite with their families.

The military reported that troops also found 50 rounds of PKT ammunition that the fleeing insurgents left behind during the operation.

Captain Goni said this rescue showed how effective the coordinated efforts of Operation HADIN KAI, the Borno State Government, and other security agencies can be.

He added that troops are still chasing the fleeing terrorists as search-and-rescue operations continue.

This latest rescue comes while security agencies are still searching for students who were taken during the attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa.

Recently, PREMIUM TIMES found through checking a community register and talking to parents that 36 students are still missing since the attack.

The Borno State Government later confirmed this number after a meeting with stakeholders in Lassa.

Military officials say operations are ongoing to rescue the remaining abducted students and to take down terrorist groups in southern Borno.