Special Forces under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State carried out a rescue operation in the early hours of yesterday, leading to the rescue of seven Chinese kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists.
The rescued Chinese victims were believed to have been kidnapped in June 2022 while working on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of 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, and weapons and kidnapped Chinese victims while fleeing for their lives due to the superior firepower of the special forces.
After the successful operation, the Chinese, according to Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, was flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation where two of the victims were stabilized. Subsequently, the victims were flown to the NAF Base Medical Hospital, Kaduna for further medical investigation.
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 an inroad into the final fringes of terrorists’ enclaves in Kaduna and the North-west in general.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet,NAF Director of Public Relations & Information disclosed it in a statement on Saturday .
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government has commended NAF on the rescue of the kidnapped expatriates.
Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, said “the Kaduna State Government has warmly commended the Nigerian Air Force for a clinical operation this morning which resulted in the rescue of seven Chinese nationals who were kidnapped in June by terrorists in a neighbouring state.”