Nigeria Launches Rescue Mission for Over 250 Abducted Children in Mass Kidnapping

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken swift action, deploying troops to rescue more than 250 children abducted by gunmen from a school in the north-western region. This marks one of the most extensive mass abductions in recent years and is the second such incident within a week in Nigeria. The country faces an ongoing threat from heavily armed criminal gangs, often operating on motorcycles, who target victims in villages, schools, and along highways, with ransom payments as their primary objective.

The latest kidnapping occurred in Kaduna state, with local officials confirming the incident at Kuriga school. While exact figures are still being determined, at least one person was shot dead during the attack. The abducted children belonged to both primary and junior school classes, and some managed to escape with school staff, according to Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at GSS Kuriga school.

President Tinubu, who vowed to enhance national security and attract foreign investment, expressed confidence in the security forces’ ability to rescue the victims. The kidnappings echo the notorious Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction by Boko Haram in 2014, emphasizing the persistent security challenges in the region. This wave of mass abductions highlights the broader issue of insecurity in Nigeria, with criminal groups targeting schoolchildren for ransom, posing a severe humanitarian concern. As the nation grapples with these security threats, swift and decisive actions are imperative to ensure the safe return of the abducted children and to address the underlying challenges contributing to such incidents.