137 school children kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria released, undergoing 'psychosocial counseling,' official says
At least 137 school children who were kidnapped by armed gunmen in Nigeria earlier this month have now been released, the governor of Nigeria’s Kaduna state Uba Sani confirmed in a TV interview aired on Sunday...
Abduction of School Children in Nigeria
At least 137 school children who were kidnapped by armed gunmen in Nigeria earlier this month have been released, as confirmed by the governor of Nigeria’s Kaduna state, Uba Sani, in a TV interview aired on Sunday. The children are currently undergoing ‘psychosocial counseling’ and receiving proper medical supervision. The governor expressed his happiness and gratitude for the safe return of the children and also acknowledged the efforts of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in coordinating the operations of the security agencies, which led to the successful outcome [1].
The incident took place on March 7, when more than 300 students were abducted by armed bandits on motorcycles who stormed the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, in Kaduna’s Chikun district. Unfortunately, a teacher died after developing complications while in captivity. The gunmen had demanded a ransom of 1 billion naira ($620,000) and threatened to kill all the students if their demands were not met. Kaduna state has been grappling with recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits and has witnessed several mass abductions in recent years [1].
This incident is part of a larger pattern of abductions of schoolchildren in Nigeria. The country has seen a rising tide of high-school abductions, where kidnapping schoolchildren for ransom has become a lucrative industry. This has led to widespread concern over rising violence carried out by armed gangs, often driven by financial motives [2].
The release of the abducted school children is a positive development, but it also highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. The government and security agencies continue to face significant obstacles in combating these abductions and ensuring the safety of the country's children [3].
The safe return of the abducted school children is a relief for their families and the community, and it underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to address the root causes of these abductions and to enhance security measures to protect the country's children and educational institutions.