Attack in Nigeria: Gunmen Kidnap 160 During Deadly Raid

Ten people lost their lives and 160 individuals, including children, were taken during an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants on a secluded village in north-central Nigeria. The heartbreaking incident took place in Kuchi village, Munya district, in Niger state, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and lasting until 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, as shared by district official Aminu Abdulhamid Najume.

Niger state, located near Nigeria's capital Abuja, has been facing a rise in kidnappings for ransom by armed groups, including large-scale abductions, in recent times.

Najume reported that approximately 300 gunmen arrived on motorcycles and stayed for several hours, making themselves comfortable before taking the hostages. "They lit a fire to keep warm because it was raining all day," Najume mentioned. "They cooked food, made tea, prepared instant noodles, and spaghetti."

Some members of a local vigilante group were among those who tragically lost their lives while trying to confront the attackers, but unfortunately, they were outnumbered. According to Najume, security forces have not yet initiated any rescue operations. He mentioned, "The police came to Kuchi yesterday [Sunday] but didn't do much else."

CNN's request for comment to the Niger State Police Command's spokesperson went unanswered.

Kuchi village has been attacked multiple times, with the latest incident being the fifth, according to Najume. He mentioned that the area is known for frequent kidnappings for ransom, but so far, there have been no demands made by the kidnappers for the latest abduction.

Amnesty International expressed their deep concern about the abduction on social media platform X. They criticized Nigerian authorities for not providing enough protection to rural communities, leaving them vulnerable to attacks by gunmen.

Yana Galan, mother of kidnapped Chibok Girl, seated and holding a picture of her daughter Rifkat Yana Galang holds a picture of her daughter Rifkat, one of the 276 schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Book Hiram in April 2014.

Yana Galan, the mother of a kidnapped Chibok Girl, sits while holding a photo of her daughter Rifkat. Yana Galang clutches a picture of her daughter Rifkat, who was one of the 276 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014.

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The Chibok abductions still have a lasting impact on girls' education in Nigeria. Gunmen have been targeting Kuchi village since 2021, attacking and raping women and girls in their own homes.

Amnesty criticized the Nigerian authorities for failing to protect lives during the recent invasion of a village by gunmen.

For years, Nigeria's security forces have been facing challenges in controlling insurgent groups in the northern part of the country.

The Kuchi abduction occurred two months after a tragic incident in Rafi, where 21 people, including a newlywed, lost their lives to gunmen referred to as 'bandits' in Niger.

Earlier in March, at least 137 schoolchildren were kidnapped in Kaduna state, but thankfully, they were eventually released. The kidnappers initially demanded 1 billion naira (over $675,000) and threatened to harm the children if their demands were not met.

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