Gunmen seize 287 school children in northwest Nigeria
A group of armed gunmen abducted at least 287 school children, with some as young as eight years old, from a school in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The incident occurred early Thursday, as confirmed by a police spokesperson to CNN on Friday.
At least 287 school children, including some as young as eight years old, are currently being held captive by gunmen who attacked their school in Nigeria's northwest Kaduna State. This incident occurred early Thursday and was confirmed by a police spokesperson speaking to CNN on Friday.
The armed bandits, riding motorcycles, seized more than 300 students during the raid on the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, located in Kaduna's Chikun district. This information was shared by the state's police spokesman, Mansur Hassan.
Hassan reported that some students have been rescued, but 287 are still in the custody of the kidnappers.
Students were taken from the school grounds on Thursday morning at 8:00 am (local time). According to Hassan, approximately 287 students are still being held by the bandits, with 100 from the primary school and 187 from the secondary school. He mentioned that although over 300 students were originally abducted, a few have since been rescued.
Reuters previously mentioned that 227 children were kidnapped, based on information from a teacher, local councilor, and parents of the missing children. However, other reports, such as those from the Washington Post and a local outlet, state that the number is actually 287, according to the school’s headteacher.
CNN is unable to confirm these numbers on its own.
Nigerians are facing one of the West African nation's worst economic crises in as many years.
Nigerians are facing one of the West African nation's worst economic crises in as many years.
Mansur Ibrahim/AP
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Governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, mentioned in a statement on Thursday that his government is working hard to bring back the kidnapped pupils and students safely.
Sani revealed that a community member who confronted the abductors during the attack lost their life. He also mentioned that the President of Nigeria and the National Security Adviser were briefed on the situation. To enhance security in the area, a Security Committee and a military base will be set up in Kuriga.
Kaduna state, located southwest of the Nigerian capital Abuja, has been facing a surge in kidnappings for ransom by bandits. The area has experienced multiple mass abductions in recent years, including incidents in the district where LEA Primary and Secondary School is situated.
In 2021, armed men kidnapped at least 140 students from a private secondary school. This incident occurred shortly after around 20 students from a private university in Chikun’s Kasarami village were abducted by gunmen. Tragically, five of the students were killed when a ransom deadline was not met, according to family members who spoke to CNN.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria office strongly condemned the kidnapping. They called on authorities to take immediate action to prevent further attacks on schools and to safeguard the lives of children and their right to education.
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