Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ali Dabigi, on Sunday, said the rescued Kaduna schoolchildren need proper medical treatment because of what they passed through.

He appreciated the efforts made by Nigerians to rescue the 287 abducted schoolchildren from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

Giving an insight into the rescue of the pupils and the ongoing security intervention in Kuriga community, Dabigi said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has promised to deploy a unit of Police Mobile Force, two Amoured Personnel Carriers to ensure stronger security in the community.

He said, “We all are very happy, and we appreciate all the efforts of everyone who assisted in the rescue.

“We did our part, all stakeholders did their parts, and we appreciate everybody. We are happy about it. To the parents, to the community, we congratulate them as well, and we appeal to them that they should accept them and that these children need to be treated very well because of what they passed through.

“They need to go back to school. Since the incident happened, the IG was here he promised to deploy a unit of PMF, and they are already there in Kuriga. Also, he promised two APCs, and you all witnessed them.

“I think for the residence of Kaduna, they have to assist the security agencies. It is only by co-operating with the security agencies that they will be able to help them, especially the community leaders, people like our major stakeholders. They should come closer and have our contacts and be ready to assist us all the time.”

On March 7, 2024, the schoolchildren from LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, Kuriga, were abducted by gunmen.

The abductors demanded N1bn for their release while giving a deadline of March 27, 2024, for the payment of the ransom.

The release of the schoolchildren was announced in a statement signed by the state governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Sunday, March 24, 2024.