more than 200 children taken by armed men

This Thursday (07), in the northern city of Kuriga, Nigeria, more than 200 students were kidnapped by armed men, in the largest mass kidnapping from a school since 2021, said a teacher, a local councilor and the children's parents missing.

Community on Alert

The event, which took place shortly after the morning meeting at the Local Government Education Authority School, shocked the community. Police authorities in Kaduna State have not yet commented on the incident, generating concern among local residents.

According to reports from home economics teacher Sani Abdullahi, the kidnapping mainly hit the secondary section of the school, with 187 students missing, while another 40 belonged to the primary section. Local councilor Idris Maiallura witnessed the chaos at the school, where gunmen initially took around 100 primary school students but later released them, while others managed to escape.

More than 200 children were kidnapped from a school in Nigeria (Photo: Reproduction/ CNN)

In July 2021, Kaduna witnessed another serious kidnapping incident involving minors when armed men took over 150 students in a shocking operation. After months of anguish and negotiations, the students were finally reunited with their families after ransoms were paid. This past event highlights the seriousness of the current situation and the urgent need for measures to prevent future similar incidents.

Appeals for rescue and safety

The parents of the kidnapped children expressed despair and indignation at the lack of security in the region. The governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, visited Kuriga and pledged his efforts to free the students, but the exact number of those missing has not yet been confirmed. Amnesty International urged Nigerian authorities to ensure the safe rescue of the children and hold perpetrators accountable.

Local residents like Fatima Usman and Hassan Abdullahi shared their concerns and sadness over the situation. Usman, mother of two abducted students, expressed her anguish as she awaits news about her children. Abdullahi, for his part, lamented the government's negligence in the area, especially in light of the escalation in kidnappings.

Kidnappings by armed men have become a common threat in northern Nigeria, affecting daily life and preventing thousands of children from attending school. This latest incident follows a series of similar kidnappings in the region.

Featured Photo: Maiduguri region suffers from constant attacks by armed groups (reproduction/Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty Images/CNN)