Kuriga, Nigeria – More than 137 schoolchildren abducted by gunmen earlier this month have been freed “unharmed,” according to Nigerian officials. The news comes as a relief to the nation after a tense two weeks that saw mass kidnappings rock parts of northern Nigeria.
The children, aged between eight and 15, were taken from a school in Kuriga, Kaduna state, on March 7th. The kidnappers, believed to be bandits, demanded a ransom of $690,000 for their release. However, the government insisted they would not negotiate.
The military launched an operation early on Sunday morning and successfully rescued the hostages. There is some discrepancy between the number of students reported missing by the school authorities (over 280) and the number freed by the military (137). Officials have not yet addressed this difference.
Sadly, a teacher who was captured with the students reportedly died during their captivity. The group was held for a total of 17 days.
This is the latest incident in a string of mass abductions that have plagued northern Nigeria in recent years. Kidnap gangs, known locally as bandits, have targeted schools and civilians, often demanding ransoms for their release. Despite a decrease in kidnappings overall, six mass abductions have taken place this month alone.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has been praised for his role in securing the release of the Kuriga children. Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state expressed his joy at the successful operation.
The military has released photos showing the rescued children, who appear tired and dusty but safe. They are currently undergoing medical checks before being reunited with their families.
The mass abduction has highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by Nigeria. While the government has passed a law criminalizing ransom payments, its effectiveness remains to be seen. This incident comes just weeks after another kidnapping in the capital, Abuja, where a family was forced to pay a ransom despite police claims of a rescue.
The mass kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls by Boko Haram militants in Chibok in 2014 remains a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Nigerian schoolchildren. While most of those girls have been freed or escaped, dozens are still missing.
The successful rescue in Kuriga offers a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing security crisis. However, the fight against kidnappings and banditry in northern Nigeria is far from over.
