Seven Chinese Nationals kidnapped in Kaduna State, North Western Nigeria and held hostage by terrorists have been rescued.
The expatriates were kidnapped in Kaduna State, an area ravaged by insecurity where human beings are being mined even in their houses on a daily basis.
Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and other states in Northern Nigeria have been under firmed grip of terrorists.
The Republican Interest reports that even the Nigeria capital city Abuja is not safe, with citizens being kidnapped on a daily basis in the suburbs.
The prison in Kuje Area Council Abuja came under attacks months ago where terrorists released Boko Haram members under detention.
The prison attack came after the March Abuja- Kaduna train attack that led to the killing of many while several others were abducted until ransom was paid for their release.
The United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK) and others issued a security alert on Abuja, advising their citizens to be conscious of their movement, an action the Nigerian government felt offensive.
But following the kidnapping of the seven Chinese expertrite in June, 2022, the Nigerian government launched a manhunt.
And in what could be described as a daring and clinical military operations, Special Forces (SF) under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, carried out a rescue operation in the early hours of 17 December 2022 leading to the rescue of 7 Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists.
The rescued Chinese victims are believed to have been kidnapped in June 2022 by terrorists while working on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government, Niger State.
The Combat Search and Rescue operation, which consisted of 35 Special Forces was conducted in the cover of night at Kanfani Doka and Gwaska general Areas leading to the terrorists abandoning their enclaves, weapons and kidnapped Chinese victims while fleeing for their lives due to the superior fire power of the special forces. After the successful operations, the 7 Chinese victims were flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation where 2 of the victims were stabilized.
According to the Nigerian Air force, the 7 victims were flown to the NAF Base Medical Hospital, Kaduna for further medical investigations.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has since congratulated the Commander of the 271 NAF Detachment, Birnin Gwari and his men for their continued determination and commitment, even in the face of danger, as they make inroad into the final fringes of terrorists’ enclaves in Kaduna State and the Northwest in general.
According to the CAS, “I am very proud of what our Special Forces in Birnin Gwari and elsewhere have continued to achieve and I remain confident that we will soon free all areas of terrorists and their activities.”
Air Marshal Amao also enjoined Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminal elements and those supporting them.
