Officials announced on Sunday that Nigerian schoolchildren who were abducted earlier this month have been released. The Nigerian military reported that 137 children were freed by security forces in the northwest region of the country.
The children were taken from their school in Kuriga, Kaduna state, on March 7. This incident is part of a series of kidnappings that have affected Nigeria. The exact number of children kidnapped from Kuriga is unclear.
Governor Uba Sani confirmed the return of the children but did not provide details about the abduction or release.
The Nigerian military stated that 76 girls and 61 boys were rescued in Zamfara state and are being brought back to Kaduna. However, the total number of children kidnapped on March 7 and the specifics of the operation were not disclosed.
Local residents reported that armed men abducted the students after their morning assembly and took them to a nearby forest.
This incident is reminiscent of the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram. Many girls were released, possibly through ransom payments, but 98 are still missing.
President Bola Tinubu praised the military for securing the children’s release and emphasized the importance of safe schools. Days before this abduction, about 200 people were kidnapped in Borno state, where the Boko Haram insurgency is prominent.
In 2020, over 3,600 people were reported kidnapped in Nigeria, the highest in five years. However, many abductions go unreported.
Kidnappings in Nigeria are often for ransom, which can be paid in various forms according to SBM Intelligence. These incidents are linked to various conflicts in the country, including insurgencies, separatist movements, and piracy.
The Alumni Association of the National Institute emphasized the need to address banditry and kidnapping to restore peace in Nigeria.
