Over 100 students were taken hostage by gunmen who broke into a primary school in the northwest of Nigeria on Thursday morning as they were getting ready for class. It was an incredibly heinous incident.
The incident, which unfolded in Chikun’s Kuriga town within Kaduna state, has once again highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by communities in northern Nigeria.
Gunmen Abduct Over 100 Pupils
According to reports from local residents and authorities speaking to The Associated Press, the attackers targeted the government primary school shortly after morning assembly, taking the pupils hostage before any assistance could arrive.
Joshua Madami, a youth leader in the area, described the harrowing scene, stating that the assailants swiftly surrounded the school, leaving no room for escape.
The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed, with Salasi Musa, chairman of the Chikun council area, suggesting that the figure could be “far more than 100.”
This appalling incident adds to the concerning trend of abductions targeting schools in the region, a phenomenon that has sparked widespread alarm since the infamous kidnapping of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno state’s Chibok village in 2014 by Islamic extremists.
Read more: Pennsylvania Woman Injured In Bear Attack While Letting Out Dog
The Escalation of Abductions in Nigeria’s Northwest and Central Regions
In recent years, such abductions have become distressingly common, particularly in the northwest and central regions of Nigeria. Armed groups, often operating with impunity, frequently target vulnerable villagers and travelers, holding them captive in exchange for hefty ransoms.
The assault on the primary school in Kuriga town serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the underlying security crisis gripping parts of Nigeria.
As authorities scramble to ascertain the fate of the abducted pupils and bring the perpetrators to justice, communities across the country remain on edge, grappling with the persistent threat of violence and insecurity.
Read more: Royal Caribbean Staff Member Arrested For Secretly Recording Cabin Bathrooms
