Seven Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists have been rescued by operatives attached to Special Forces under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.
NigeriaCrime.com gathered that the Special Forces under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment carried out a rescue operation in the early hours of Saturday.
The rescued Chinese 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, Niger State.
The Combat Search and Rescue operation, which consisted of 35 Special Forces was conducted under 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 operations, the seven Chinese victims were flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation where 2 of the victims were stabilized. Subsequently, 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.”
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.”
“According to a report from the Nigerian Air Force, Special Forces under the 271 NAF detachment conducted the operation in Kampanin Doka and Gwaska areas of Birnin Gwari LGA, and successfully rescued the seven expatriates who have been conveyed to a secure facility.”
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed satisfaction at the report and commended the Chief of Air Staff, as well as the Commander and men of the 271 NAF detachment for the daring operation by the Special Forces. Citizens will be updated on further developments,” he said.