President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, welcomed the news of the release of the Kuriga schoolchildren in Kaduna State.
He also welcomed the release of pupils of a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State, commending all the parties involved in the feat for their valiant effort.
Tinubu’s message is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled, ‘President Tinubu welcomes release of Kuriga school children, said schools must be safe and secure for learning.’
The Nigerian military on Sunday said it rescued students of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
On March 6, at least 287 pupils were kidnapped when terrorists on motorcycles stormed their school, whisking them away in an operation that drew condemnation and outrage from the Presidency and the global community, including the UN children’s welfare agency UNICEF.
However, a statement issued Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said 137 pupils were rescued, contrary to reports of 287.
According to Buba, the pupils rescued through a joint effort of the military and local authorities in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday.