President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the release of 344 kidnapped students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State.
He described their rescue and safe return as a big relief to their families, the entire country and international community.
The students who were kidnapped last Friday were released tonight following negotiation between governments at the national and state levels.
Breaking: Abducted Kankara Schoolboys Released
According to presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, President Buhari expressed the nation’s appreciation for the steps taken by all involved to make their release possible.
The President specifically cited what he called the “spirit of partnership and the collaborative efforts of the government of Katsina, Zamfara and military leading to the release”.
He commended the nation’s intelligence agencies, the military and police force for providing the environment for safe release of the hostages.
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The statement added;
The Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and the army worked extremely hard. As soon as I got the information I congratulated them. The Armed Forces know their job. They have been well trained and properly motivated.
On the issue of detainees held different parts of the country by either terrorists or bandits, the President gave assurances that his administration is aware of its responsibility to protect the life and property of the Nigerians.
President Buhari urged the citizens to be patient and fair to the administration as it deals with the problems of security, economy and corruption.
He noted that the administration was fully aware that it was elected to resolve challenges, saying;
When we came, we made efforts that yielded the return of the Chibok Girls. When a similar incident of school abduction happened at Dapchi, we successfully returned all but one of the more than one hundred abductees. When this latest incident happened, we put in our efforts and today we have this result to show.
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The President pointed to the successes of the administration in dealing with security in the South South and North East.
He said the North West now presents a challenge which his administration is determined to deal with.
Buhari prayed for the full recovery of the students, whom he said had endured significant hardships in the course of their six-day ordeal.
The President assured of the determination of his administration to return to safety all citizens held against their will.
Here are photos of the students being conveyed in military and police trucks from Tsafe, Zamfara State, to Katsina after they were released by Boko Haram members today December 17;
