Nigeria: 15 More Children Abducted Following Recent Mass Kidnapping of Nearly 300

Authorities in northwest Nigeria reported that armed men stormed a boarding school early Saturday, March 9, and abducted 15 students as they slept. This incident occurred only two days after 287 students were kidnapped in the area, which is now experiencing a lot of violence.

Since the 2014 abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in the Chibok town in Borno state by Islamic extremists stunned the world, school abductions have become increasingly prevalent in northern Nigeria. Since then, at least 1,400 people have been kidnapped by armed gangs who have targeted schools for the purpose of demanding ransom.

A general view of a classroom at Kuriga school in Kuririga on March 8, 2024, where gunmen kidnapped more than 250 pupils. (Photo: HAIDAR UMAR / AFP via Getty Images)

Most Recent Kidnapping

Police told The Associated Press that the latest kidnapping incident on Saturday began at around 1:00 AM local time when armed men stormed the hamlet of Gidan Bakuso in the Gada council region of Sokoto state. According to Sokoto police spokesperson Ahmad Rufa'i, the masked individuals abducted the students from the Islamic school's dorm before the arrival of security authorities. In addition to the pupils, a lady was also kidnapped from the area.

Rufa'i said a police tactical unit was sent to find them. However, the rescue attempt was hindered by the area's impassable roads, and the police team had to utilize motorbikes to reach the distant settlement.

Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima met with officials and many parents of the kidnapped kids on Saturday, assuring them that security forces are making every attempt to locate and rescue their children.

Mass Abductions

Suspected extremists in Borno state seized over 200 individuals, mostly women and children, late last week. This Saturday's incident was the third major abduction in northern Nigeria since then. A government elementary and secondary school in Kaduna state was also raided on Thursday, March 7, capturing 287 kids.

These recent assaults have brought the security situation in Africa's most populous nation back into the spotlight. There are hundreds of armed gangs in the northern area of Nigeria, and kidnapping people for ransom has become a lucrative activity there.

None of the abductions were attributed to any one organization. While Islamic militants in northeastern Nigeria are being scrutinized for the kidnappings in Borno state, the locals have pointed the finger at herders who were involved in conflicts with their host communities before turning to violence.