Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for a clinical operation on Saturday morning which led to the rescue of seven Chinese citizens who were kidnapped in June by terrorists in Niger state.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement on Saturday that Governor el-Rufai expressed appreciation to the Special Forces for the daring mission which ensured that the expatriates regained their freedom.
“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,” he said.
The Special Forces (SF) under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state, carried out the rescue operation in the early hours of 17 December 2022 leading to the rescue of 7 Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists, an Air Force statement said.
The statement signed by the Director of Public Relations & Information NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said, “The rescued Chinese victims are 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 in the cover of night at Kanfani Doka and Gwaska areas leading to the terrorists abandoning their enclaves, weapons and kidnapped Chinese victims while fleeing for their lives due to the superior fire power of the special forces.
“After the successful operations, the 7 Chinese victims were flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation where two 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 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. I’m 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.