Nigerian pupils kidnapped in mass abduction freed unharmed
On March 7th, a group of gunmen on motorcycles rode into a school compound in Kuriga, Nigeria, and abducted over 280 children from a junior and senior school. The kidnappers, known as bandits, demanded a ransom of $690,000 for the release of the children, aged between eight and 15.
Despite the government’s refusal to pay ransom, the security forces were able to rescue 137 hostages in an operation that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, just days before the ransom deadline. Sadly, one teacher taken from Kuriga died in captivity. The group was held for 17 days before their rescue.
This incident is just one of six mass abductions that have occurred in northern Nigeria this month. Kidnap gangs have seized thousands of people in recent years, with victims usually being freed after ransom payments are made.
In an effort to combat this issue, a controversial law was passed in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments. However, no arrests have been made under this law. The international community was shocked in 2014 when nearly 300 girls were kidnapped by Islamist militants in Chibok, highlighting the ongoing issue of mass abductions in Nigeria.
Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to rescue kidnapped individuals. Just days after the Kuriga attack, 17 students and a woman were rescued from a school in Sokoto. The government and security forces are working to ensure the safety of all citizens and prevent further abductions.