Overview
Recent incidents of abductions at Nigerian schools have raised concerns about the safety and security of students and staff in the country. The most recent mass abduction took place in Kuriga, Kaduna State, where over 200 students and staff were kidnapped by gunmen.
Background
Abductions at Nigerian schools were first carried out by the jihadist group Boko Haram, known for its 2014 abduction of 276 students from a girls’ school in Chibok, Borno State. While some of the Chibok girls remain missing, the tactic of school abductions has been adopted by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments.
Recent Incident
The mass abduction in Kuriga, Kaduna State, on March 7, 2023, marked the first such incident in Africa’s most populous nation since 2021. The gunmen demanded a ransom of 1 billion naira ($690,000) for the release of the missing children and staff.
Government Response
The office of the governor of Kaduna State announced that the abducted students and staff have been released unharmed. Governor Uba Sani praised the efforts of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army in coordinating the release operation.
Security Challenges
Despite the government’s stance against paying ransoms, kidnappings by criminal gangs continue to pose a significant security threat in northern Nigeria. Families and communities are often forced to make difficult choices to secure the release of their loved ones, leading to financial and emotional hardships.