TheCable

Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, has received 200 police special intervention forces deployed to checkmate insecurity in the state.

Sani received the operatives on Sunday at the government house in Kaduna alongside Hadiza Balarabe, his deputy, and other top government officials.

The forces are to protect residents of vulnerable communities in Chikun, Kajuru, Birnin-Gwari LGAs, and other frontline locations that have been under siege by bandits and terrorists in recent times.

Two armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were also deployed to the state.

The governor thanked Kayode Egbetoku, the inspector-general of police (IGP), for his outstanding service and support to Kaduna state.

Sani also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for “providing focused leadership during this trying time in Nigeria’s history and ensuring the safe return of the Kuriga schoolchildren”.

The development comes hours after the governor announced the release of the schoolchildren abducted in the Kuriga community of Chikun LGA.

The schoolchildren were taken hostage on March 7 when bandits attacked the community and invaded the primary and secondary schools.

Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at the secondary school, had said 287 students were missing after the attack.

While announcing their release on Sunday morning, the governor did not indicate if all the abducted students were freed.

He thanked Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), and the Nigerian Army for their efforts in facilitating the release of the schoolchildren.