Special Forces (SF) under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, on Saturday morning, carried out a rescue operation, leading to the rescue of seven Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists for about six months.
The rescued victims were 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 area of Niger State.
This was revealed in a statement by the Director of Public
Relations & Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Saturday.
He said that 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 victims while fleeing for their lives due to the superior firepower of the special forces.
“After the successful operations, the seven Chinese victims were flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation were two of the victims were stabilised. Subsequently, the seven victims were flown to the NAF Base Medical Hospital, Kaduna for further medical investigations,” the NAF spokesman stated.
He added that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), 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.
“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.
