The Nigerian Army on Friday said that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have rescued two teachers and five students of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.
The authority said that one of the students — a female–was rescued dead due to exhaustion.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Friday, said that the victims were rescued after an exchange of fire with the criminals.
Nwachukwu said that the troops had been on hot pursuit of the kidnappers and bandits following the abduction.
He said that the rescue followed an initial encounter with the abductors in the early hours of Friday after trailing the kidnappers through Rijau to Sombo community.
According to him, the kidnappers who had split into two groups, fled with one group conveying the abducted children, while the second group conveyed rustled cattle.
“The land troops in conjunction with elements of the Nigerian Air Force, who provided close air support during the rescue mission intercepted the two groups at about 2.30 a.m.
“They engaged them in a firefight leading to the successful rescue of the teachers and students.
“The troops also recovered 800 cattle rustled by the bandits.
“The troops are still on the heels of the kidnappers to rescue the remaining abductees still in captivity,” he said.
Nwachukwu further said that a female student was found to have died.
He said that the rescued teachers and students would be handed over to the Kebbi Government.
“The Nigerian Army appreciates the cooperation so far from good-spirited citizens and wishes to solicit more.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has directed the Commander to spare no effort until all the abducted persons are safely rescued and reunited with their loved ones,” he said
