Rescued Kaduna schoolchildren reunite with families today

The 137 Kaduna schoolchildren rescued from terrorists will today (Thursday), be reunited with their families.

The state government announced on Sunday that the students were rescued in Zamfara State. They were returned and received in Kaduna on Monday by Governor Uba Sani.

The General Officer Commanding 1 Div, Maj. Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, who presented the schoolchildren to the governor, said six of them were hospitalised at the Army medical facility, Dalet Barracks, Kawo, Kaduna.

He added that a teacher abducted with the schoolchildren died in captivity.

On Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna State, Dr. Abdulkadir Meyere, announced that the students would be formally reunited with their parents today.

Meyere spoke when he played host to the abducted children at the Government House.

The Women and Children Shelter, where they were undergoing psychosocial therapy.

He had added that they would be handed over to the state government as soon as they were certified to be medically fit.

Addressing the schoolchildren and their parents, the SSG said, “We should all thank God. It would be recalled that on the very day that this incident happened, the governor came down to Kuriga to see you people of the Kuriga community to sympathise with you and to assure you as the Governor of Kaduna State of his concern, telling you people that, these children are his children.

“He also promised that he would do his best by working with the Federal Government and the security agencies to rescue the children. By the mercy of God, what the Governor promised has happened.

“The governor himself would have loved to be here today, but he has gone to Abuja on an equally important assignment. But, he has said that he would not allow them to go back to Kuriga until he comes back tomorrow to personally bid them farewell.

“By the grace of God, your children will be handed over to you tomorrow.”

Also, speaking, one of the parents of the Kuriga schoolchildren, Idris Abdullahi, praised the government for its efforts in rescuing the 137 students.

“May God help this government. May God reward the government handsomely,” he said.

In an emotion-laden voice, the parent said it was hard to describe the trauma they went through while their children were in captivity.

He said, “Please, bear with me because of my voice. It is nothing but because I was in tears of joy. There is no doubt that only God knew what was going through our minds.

“First, we are expressing our gratitude to God Almighty who bestowed His mercy on us. There is nothing we are going to say to the Governor other than to thank and pray that Allah reward him abundantly. We are praying that Allah will protect him, make him succeed in his tenure and get re-elected.

“We have started hearing that the governor will stand by us and ensure that these our children complete their education up to university level. May Allah make it happen like that.”

Dahiru Abdullahi, another parent, prayed that the Kuriga incident would be the last in the country.

He commended the state governor, President Bola Tinubu as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu for their relentless effort in rescuing the 137 students.

He said, “So, we are grateful first to the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Kaduna, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa and National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu and others because they worked tirelessly to rescue the children.

“This is because in the history of abduction of schoolchildren, from Chibok, to Yauri, to Kagara and other ones, this is the first time that abducted schoolchildren would be rescued within 16 days; so, we are grateful.”

Meanwhile, one of the abducted students, Suleiman Lawal, described the abduction as God’s design.

“It was God that destined that, some people would come and abduct us us and take us into the bush and by the will of God, He destined that, we would come out safely.

“We have been well received. Those that are injured were treated and we are happy.

“We are grateful to the government and Governor of Kaduna state. May God continue to uplift them.

“Our coming here has given us the desire to pursue our education to a greater height by God’s grace.”

Another abducted pupil, Aisha Mohammed, thanked God for the governor’s swift intervention, noting that through the governor they were able to see their parents again.

She said, “We are grateful to the government, especially the Commissioner of Human Services and the governor who helped us to see our parents again. We are praying that God will continue to uplift them.

“We are also praying that God will also make our dreams come to pass.”