Gunmen attacked a government primary school in Kaduna state, Nigeria, and kidnapped dozens of pupils as they were about to begin their school day. The abductions took place at the Local Government Education Authority School in Kuriga town, with the exact number of pupils taken still unclear. The assailants stormed the school after morning assembly, taking almost 200 pupils and students hostage before escaping.
Abductions of students in northern Nigeria have been a recurring problem, with concerns escalating since Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in 2014. The kidnappings in recent years have mainly occurred in the northwest and central regions, where armed groups target villagers and travelers for ransom. The most recent major abduction involving schoolchildren was in June 2021 in the state of Kebbi.
Parents of the missing children are distraught, with one mother expressing her helplessness and reliance on divine intervention. Local vigilantes attempted to repel the gunmen but were unsuccessful, leaving many parents feeling neglected by the government in the face of such insecurity. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by communities in Nigeria due to the prevalence of armed groups and the lack of sufficient security measures.
The police in Kaduna state have not commented on the abductions, leaving families and residents anxiously awaiting updates on the fate of the kidnapped children. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the continued threat of kidnapping in the region and the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect vulnerable communities.
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