The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation Thunder Strike have rescued six students of the Government Day Secondary School, Gwagwada in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State who were abducted on their way to school on Thursday morning.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations of 1 Division, Nigeria Army Kaduna, Col. Ezindu Idimah told reporters in Kaduna that three motor boys were also rescued while one suspected bandit was neutralized by the troops.

“The troops who were on routine patrol in the general area received information from a reliable source that some bandits terrorizing the Abuja-Kaduna highway have waylaid some students on their way to school and abducted them.

“Troops immediately swung into action and gave the bandits a hot chase. On sighting the troops, the bandits engaged them in a firefight but had to surrender to the superior firepower of the troops.

“Following the firefight, one of the bandits was neutralized while the rest scampered to different directions of the forest with gunshot wounds,” Idimah said. 

He disclosed that all the rescued students have reunited with their families, adding that one AK47 rifle with seven rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a pump action gun and ten cartridges were recovered by the troops whom he said were currently combing the entire forest in search of the other fleeing bandits.