Mass Abducted Nigerian Pupils Freed Unharmed by Security Forces in Kuriga
ABUJA ‑ In a daring rescue mission, Nigerian pupils who were taken by gunmen in a mass abduction in the north-western town of Kuriga have been freed “unharmed”, according to officials.
Kaduna state governor Uba Sani credited the courage of the security forces for the successful rescue operation. The school authorities initially reported that over 280 children were abducted, but the army confirmed that 137 hostages had been liberated.
The operation took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, just days before a ransom deadline was set. The children, aged between eight and 15, along with one teacher, were kidnapped on March 7.
Kidnap gangs, referred to as bandits, have been responsible for a wave of abductions in recent years, particularly in the north-west region of Nigeria. While there had been a decrease in school targeting over the past year, this month has seen six mass abductions in northern Nigeria.
Typically, hostages are released after a ransom is paid, but this time the kidnappers demanded $690,000 (£548,000), which the government refused to pay. Governor Sani commended President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army for their efforts in securing the safe release of the abducted Kuriga schoolchildren.
The mass abduction took place during a school assembly on March 7, with witnesses recounting how gunmen on motorcycles stormed the school grounds and kidnapped 187 students from a secondary school and 125 from a local primary school. Tragically, one 14-year-old pupil lost his life after being shot by the gunmen.
Most abductions in north-west Nigeria, including Kaduna state, are believed to be driven by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments. In an effort to combat the rampant kidnapping industry, a controversial law prohibiting ransom payments was enacted in 2022.
Despite the challenges, the fight against kidnapping continues, with families often forced to make difficult decisions to secure the release of their loved ones. The global community was reminded of the ongoing threat when Boko Haram militants abducted nearly 300 girls in Chibok in 2014.
