Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, has revealed that the military buried a fallen officer on the same day security forces rescued the teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Speaking in a video shared by Channels Television, Nnebeife said troops maintained sustained pressure on the kidnappers until they were prepared to release the hostages without conditions. He added that the operation was aimed not only at securing the victims’ freedom but also at dismantling the activities of the criminal group.
The GOC disclosed that the military suffered casualties during the rescue mission, including an army lieutenant who was killed in the operation.
“We suffered casualties from the military. Unfortunately the day we buried the officer, we buried him in the morning and in the evening we finally rescued them. The officer was buried in Adamawa State. So we salute the ultimate sacrifice they paid and their bravery will indeed never be forgotten,” Nnebeife said.
He paid tribute to the fallen personnel, saying their courage and sacrifice would always be remembered as part of the successful operation that secured the release of the abducted teachers and schoolchildren.
