Report Of Rescued NNPC Staff ‘Unconfirmed’, As Findings Reveal None Was Rescued Alive

The minister of state for petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has said he cannot confirm if any of the oil workers kidnapped by Boko Haram has been rescued.

He said this while speaking with journalists at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) towers in Abuja, on Thursday.

“We only heard, but can’t confirm if anyone has been rescued,” he said.

Meanwhile, a report by Premium Times said the kidnap of oil workers that resulted in the death of nine soldiers also led to the death of at least 18 other people including some of the kidnap victims.

Recall that the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a brigadier general, in a statement, announced that all the NNPC staff were rescued, saying nine soldiers were killed in the operation.

However, investigations by Premium Times revealed that the casualty was beyond what was announced by the army, and that none of the oil workers were actually rescued alive.

According to the report, “at least 18 other people died from the raid.”

It was learnt that of the 18 other corpses recovered, 12 have been identified as members of the CJTF, while four have been identified as staff of UNIMAID. The four include two PhD holders.

It was also learnt that the younger brother of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri was among the victims.

A member of staff who works in the mortuary at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital further confirmed that four corpses were brought into the facility early on Thursday morning, identified to have been on the staff of UNIMAID.

Asked to comment on the incident, the school’s spokesperson, Professor Danjuma Gambo, declined saying it was now a security matter.