BREAKING: We can’t confirm rescue of NNPC staff, says Kachikwu

‎Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, says 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.

The insurgents laid an ambush for the oil workers in Magumeri local government area of Borno state on Tuesday.

Nine soldiers and some members of the civilian joint task force (CJTF) who were providing security for the oil workers were killed. but the army said all the captives had been rescued.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sani Usman, army spokesman, said all the captives had been rescued.

‎”So far, we have rescued all the NNPC staff and recovered the corpses of the officer, eight soldiers and a civilian have who have been evacuated to 7 division medical services and hospital,” he said.

The NNPC had commissioned the oil workers to explore oil in Lake Chad.