Armed Men Abduct 15 Children in Latest School Attack in Northwestern Nigeria
In a distressing turn of events, armed men broke into a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria and abducted 15 children as they slept. This incident occurred just 48 hours after nearly 300 students were taken hostage in the conflict-hit region. School abductions have unfortunately become all too common in Nigeria’s northern region, especially since the infamous 2014 kidnapping of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno state’s Chibok village, which shocked the world.
Since then, armed gangs have targeted schools for kidnap ransoms, resulting in at least 1,400 abductions. The recent attack took place in the Gidan Bakuso village of the Gada council area in Sokoto state. The armed men swiftly invaded the Islamic school and seized the children from their hostel before security forces could intervene. One woman from the village was also abducted during the incident.
The Sokoto police spokesman, Ahmad Rufa’i, revealed that a police tactical squad was deployed to search for the students. However, the rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the inaccessible roads in the area. Rufa’i explained, “It is a remote village (and) vehicles cannot go there; they (the police squad) had to use motorcycles to reach the village.”
This unfortunate incident marks the third mass kidnapping in northern Nigeria since late last week. In Borno state, suspected extremists abducted over 200 people, mostly women and children. Additionally, 287 students were taken hostage from a government primary and secondary school in Kaduna state. These incidents shed light on the ongoing security crisis that has plagued Africa’s most populous country.
Kidnappings for ransoms have become a lucrative business for armed gangs operating in Nigeria’s northern region. Unfortunately, no group has claimed responsibility for any of these abductions, leaving authorities and communities in a state of uncertainty and fear.
While Islamic extremists are suspected of carrying out the kidnappings in Borno state, locals have attributed the school abductions to herders who have been in conflict with their host communities before resorting to violence. Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, met with authorities and parents of the abducted students in Kaduna state. He assured them of the ongoing efforts by security forces to locate and rescue the children.
The recent wave of school abductions in Nigeria highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures and a comprehensive strategy to combat these criminal activities. The safety and well-being of Nigeria’s children should be a top priority, and concerted efforts must be made to ensure their protection.