Nigeria school kidnapping: 250 children still held two weeks on

Security Incident: School Abductions in Nigeria

Over 250 children remain in captivity following an attack on a Catholic boarding school on Tue, Nov 21, 2023. The incident involved gunmen who abducted more than 300 students and staff members. School authorities have reported that 50 children successfully escaped.

This event is noted as one of the most significant abductions since 2014, when Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Chibok. Security forces have indicated that efforts are being made to secure the release of the remaining abductees.

In response to this crisis, President Bola Tinubu has declared a security emergency. Measures include the recruitment of additional security personnel to address the ongoing threat.

Mass kidnappings of schoolchildren have become a recurring issue in Nigeria, attributed to various armed groups, some of which engage in kidnappings for ransom. Since 2014, there have been at least a dozen similar incidents, with approximately 1,799 students having been kidnapped. Some of these victims have not been rescued.

Based on reporting by Africanews.