OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Zamfara State have successfully rescued all four remaining students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, who were kidnapped last month.
The rescue operation, which took place on Wednesday, came just days after security forces freed a professor from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in a separate operation.
According to security sources, the DSS acted on intelligence to secure the release of the students—four males and one female—without any ransom payment. One of the kidnappers was apprehended during the operation, while the remaining members of the gang did not survive the encounter.
June Abduction
The students were originally seized on June 3 when armed bandits stormed their off-campus hostel in the Low-cost area of Kaura Namoda town and abducted six of them.
The attack sent shockwaves through the academic community and heightened concerns about the safety of students in the region.
Two of the six students had been released earlier, but the remaining four had remained in captivity until Wednesday’s successful operation.
Intelligence-Led Success
Following the initial release of two students, security forces intensified an intelligence-led operation to secure the safe return of the remaining captives.
The surgical operation culminated in their rescue, bringing relief to families and the wider academic community.
The DSS has not disclosed the identities of the rescued students or the exact location where they were being held, citing operational security concerns.
The successful rescue mission underscores the ongoing efforts of security agencies to combat the growing threat of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria’s northern states, where educational institutions have increasingly become targets for criminal gangs.
