Military, Police, DSS, others to rescue abducted Zamfara school girls -IGP

• says 2 surveillance helicopters deployed

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu on Friday disclosed that the military, police, Department of State Security, and other security operatives have commenced coordinated search and rescue operations on the Zamfara abducted school girls.

Suspected bandits in Hilux vehicles and a number of motorcycles in security uniforms abducted over 300 students of Government Secondary School (GSS) Jangebe in Talatar Mafara local government area of Zamfara Friday morning.

Adamu said he has ordered the immediate deployment of two operational surveillance helicopters to Zamfara State.

According to the police, this is in addition to the personnel of Operation Puff Adder II earlier deployed to the State to support efforts by the Command to combat banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes.

A statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba said: “Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have commenced a coordinated search and rescue operation, involving the deployment of both ground and aerial assets, aimed at locating and rescuing the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State abducted in the early hours of Friday, 25th February, 2021. To ensure the success of the ongoing operation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the immediate deployment of two (2) operational surveillance helicopters to Zamfara State.

“This is in addition to the personnel of Operation Puff Adder II earlier deployed to the State to support efforts by the Command to combat banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes.”

“The IGP, while condemning the: “barbaric and callous abduction of the innocent female students, has assured that the Police and other security forces will not relent until the abducted students are successfully rescued and reunited with their families.”

Mba said the joint rescue operation is being carried out by the Police, the Military and other members of the law enforcement community with support from the State Government and other Stakeholders.

The statement said that the IGP has called for calm and enjoined members of the public, particularly the people of Zamfara State, not to hesitate in availing the Police and the law enforcement community with useful information that can assist in the rescue of the abducted school girls.