More than 150 Nigerian schoolchildren, who had been held captive for over two weeks, were successfully rescued and returned to their home state in northwestern Nigeria.
This marked another instance in a series of mass abductions targeting schools across the West African nation. While the majority of the rescued children were in good health, six students remained hospitalized, and tragically, one staff member lost their life during the ordeal. The abduction occurred on March 7 when gunmen on motorcycles seized the students from their school in Kaduna state’s Kuriga town. A comprehensive rescue operation led by the military resulted in their liberation from a forest in neighboring Zamfara state.
Although details of the operation and any arrests made were not disclosed, the children were finally reunited with their families after enduring harrowing conditions in captivity. Upon their return, they were provided with fresh clothing, indicative of their first change since the abduction. However, some showed signs of exhaustion, likely from traversing long distances in the forest. While the children’s release was celebrated, concerns lingered about the persistent threat of kidnappings targeting schools in Nigeria. The government affirmed that no ransom was paid for their freedom, vowing to apprehend the perpetrators.
The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the conflict-affected regions where armed groups often target civilians for ransom and exploitation, perpetuating a cycle of fear and instability.