Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), has handed over the remaining 130 kidnapped students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School, who recently regained their freedom, to Umar Bago, governor of Niger state.
The handover followed the earlier release of 100 students, who were officially handed over to the Niger state government by the office of the NSA on December 8.
Speaking at a brief ceremony at the government house in Minna, Ribadu, who was represented by Adamu Laka, national coordinator of the Centre for Counter Terrorism (CCT), Abuja, said the rescue operation was coordinated by the office of the NSA through the combined efforts of several security agencies.
He said the operation was carried out in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu and involved the police, Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“The rescue of the remaining kidnapped students and teachers followed the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was coordinated by the office of the NSA,” he said.
Ribadu also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of citizens through reforms aimed at tackling insecurity.
According to him, the federal government will implement short-term measures in high-risk areas by involving community leaders to enhance security.
He added that schools closed due to insecurity would be reopened to ensure that children continue their education.
“On behalf of the national security adviser, I hereby hand over the remaining 130 students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School to you, Your Excellency,” he said.
Bago thanked President Tinubu, the office of the NSA and other security agencies for ensuring the safe return of all the abducted students and teachers.
“We thank God for the mercies shown to us. Looking at them, you can see the torment they have gone through, and their number is also very frightening. We are happy they will be reunited with their families,” Bago said.
He described the rescue of all the kidnapped students and teachers as unprecedented, noting that it was rare to secure the release of everyone abducted in such incidents in the country.
