Gunmen Abduct 287 Students in Latest School Attack in Nigeria’s Northwest
In a disturbing turn of events, gunmen attacked a school in Nigeria’s northwest region on Thursday, abducting at least 287 students, according to the headteacher. This marks the second mass abduction in the West African nation in less than a week and underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by the country.
Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria have sadly become common occurrences and a source of concern. This trend gained international attention in 2014 when over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamic extremists in Borno state’s Chibok village. In recent years, these abductions have been concentrated in northwestern and central regions, where armed groups frequently target villagers and travelers for ransom.
The assailants reportedly surrounded the government-owned school in Kaduna State’s Kuriga town as pupils and students were about to start the school day. Initially, authorities had indicated that more than 100 students were taken hostage, but the headteacher later confirmed that the total number missing after a headcount was 287. Governor Uba Sani assured the community that every child would be rescued and stated, “We are working with the security agencies.”
Security forces, accompanied by the governor, arrived at the scene several hours later, and a search operation was launched. This attack comes just days after another mass abduction in northeastern Nigeria, where extremists abducted over 200 people, mostly women and children.
The mass abductions of women, children, and students in conflict-hit northern Nigeria have become all too frequent, with many victims being released only after paying hefty ransoms. These recent attacks serve as a stark reminder of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, which resulted in the deaths of several hundred people in 2023 alone.
President Bola Tinubu, who was elected last year with a promise to end the violence, has yet to see tangible improvements in the security situation, according to Oluwole Ojewale, a researcher with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies. The attacks highlight the urgent need for effective measures to address the security challenges facing Nigeria and protect its citizens.
