180 persons were rescued while several others, mostly students, remained missing in the aftermath of the attack by gunmen on Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi LGA
Troops of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of Friday, (12th March 2021) carried out the rescue operation after putting the bandits in disarray.
The bandits in large number had attacked the institution at around 11:30pm on Thursday and kidnapped several students and staff members.
The bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence.
They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.
The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on receiving a distress call, alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
Troops of the Nigerian Army immediately, according to the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, moved to the school and engaged the armed bandits accordingly.
The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff members and 130 male students.
However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, had yet to be accounted for, the commissioner stated.
He said that some of the rescued students were injured and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility.
“Receiving the report, Governor Nasir el-Rufai thanked the troops for their swift response and the rescue of the 180 citizens,” he added.
He said the governor also wished the injured students a speedy recovery.
As at the time of this update, a combined team of Army, Air Force, Police and DSS troops were conducting an operation to track the missing students.
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