Kankara Schoolboys: Army Reveals Details On How They Rescued 344 students
Thompson Nsisongabasi
Dec 19, 2020
The Nigerian military has made some disclosures on how it carried out the rescue operation of the three hundred forty-four (344) boys kidnapped from their school in Kankara, Katsina State, on December 11.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
It said that while kinetic and non-kinetic approaches were used to ensure all the students were rescued unhurt, there was resistance from the kidnappers who laid an ambush against the troops.
READ ALSO: ABA NORTH/SOUTH FED. CONST: Hon Ikwechegh Restates Commitment To Service As Eze Love Wogu Visits
Major Gen. John Enenche, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, and retired Major Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, former Director, Military Intelligence, gave the accounts when they both featured on a special edition of the Nigeria Television Authority programme, "Good Morning NigeriaÔÇØ on Saturday.
Jibrin, who is currently the Special Adviser, Technical, to the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, said after the kidnapped of the boys, the minister led a delegation, including the Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser, to Katsina and Kankara.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Increasing evidence virus now airborne, says Virlogist
He explained that the minister gave the rules of engagement directing the military to ensure the abducted boys were rescued without casualties and within the shortest time possible.
READ ALSO: NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT , SECURITY OFFICIALS PRACTICE CORRUPTION WITH IMPUNITY IN 2018 - US
Jibrin said, "Following the directive, the troop closed in on the abductors from 4 different fronts, including the reinforcement that was made from other divisions to ensure that the entire location was sealed off.
"The bandits were all under siege, and they were fully aware of that, feeling the impacts of the presence of the troops both from the air and on the ground.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu: Legal Team Storms DSS Headquarters Today
"When they approached the location where the boys were held, the troops encountered some pockets of opposition which they cleared and moved deeper into the forest.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Set To Order 2 Billion Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine - FG |READ FULL DETAIL
"Although, there was no casualty on the part of the boys, a lot of the bandits were neutralised because in the attempt by the military to move forward, they laid an ambush in 2 places along the way.
"Infact, in the second place where they laid an ambush, there was serious resistance because they were hiding and occupied the road.
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
"They delayed the movement of the troop for some hours before they were neutralised.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Jibrin added that while the troops were on the field, negotiations were ongoing at another level of the rescue efforts.
READ ALSO: WAR OF WORDS: "Be very careful", Uzodinma warns Wike
According to him, the troop couldn't completely demobilise the bandits because of possible collateral damage as the abducted boys were used as a human shield.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Commenting on the claim by the Boko Haram terrorists that they were responsible for the abduction of the students, Jibrin said the group was only seeking cheap relevance.
READ ALSO: ABA NORTH/SOUTH FED. CONST: Hon Ikwechegh Restates Commitment To Service As Eze Love Wogu Visits
"Shekau doesn't have the reach to carry out the abduction because a lot is being done to stop them in the North-East,ÔÇØ he said.
"He's just taking advantage of what happened to get publicity locally and internationally, it's clear that the abduction was done by bandits.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Increasing evidence virus now airborne, says Virlogist
"All their efforts when they were trying to reach out to the bandits, which they did, were monitored.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT , SECURITY OFFICIALS PRACTICE CORRUPTION WITH IMPUNITY IN 2018 - US
On his part, Enenche explained that the rescue mission, like any other one, was a delicate operation because if it wasn't carried out very professionally, the tide could turn negatively.
Enenche said, "This is an operation where you don't rely on your capacity on platforms and mechanical weapons but your ability to effectively carry out the mission with unarmed combat.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu: Legal Team Storms DSS Headquarters Today
"This means you've to silence your enemies and take your objective away without firing a shot.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Set To Order 2 Billion Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine - FG |READ FULL DETAIL
"It's very delicate in the sense that if you don't manage the operation well, the children who are in between you and the enemies will now become the victims.
"When they become the victims, the people outside there'll attribute it to failure on the part of your security forces.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Enenche said the special troops deployed on the mission were on the spot and couldn't have blinked their eyes for even one hour all through the days of the mission.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
According to him, the information provided locally was also very encouraging while the support they got from all the stakeholders was of assistance.
READ ALSO: WAR OF WORDS: "Be very careful", Uzodinma warns Wike
He said: "There was no conspiracy of silence. All that we needed were provided even from the locals, and before you know it, we were able to locate the place.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
"All the kinetic and non-kinetic blockades were all effectively monitored.
READ ALSO: ABA NORTH/SOUTH FED. CONST: Hon Ikwechegh Restates Commitment To Service As Eze Love Wogu Visits
"This is to the extent that even when they were going to leave their enclave to make bulk purchases from the market, we got information.ÔÇØ
SOURCE
Related Stories
REVEALED: How All Progressives Congress (APC) Played Into The Opposition Hands Ahead Of 2027 - Sumner Sambo Warns
I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Tinubu Breaks Silence on Hardship, Inflation, Power Crisis - Vows Nigeria Will Overcome Economic Storm
"Terrorists Have Outgunned Our TroopsÔÇØ - Ndume Raises Alarm Over Boko Haram War, Sends Urgent Message To Tinubu
""
— Thompson Nsisongabasi