Gunmen launched an attack on a school situated in Nigeria’s northwest region on Thursday morning, resulting in the abduction of at least 287 students, as reported by the headteacher to authorities.
This event signifies the occurrence of the second large-scale abduction within Nigeria in less than a week.
According to locals who spoke with The Associated Press, the attackers encircled the government-run school in Kuriga town, Kaduna State, just as the students were preparing to commence their school day.
Initially, authorities stated that over 100 students had been taken hostage during the assault. However, upon a headcount conducted by the headteacher during a visit by Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, the confirmed number of missing individuals rose to 287.
The abduction of students from schools in northern Nigeria has become distressingly common, sparking nationwide concern. This concern has intensified since 2014, following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls by Islamic extremists in the Chibok village of Borno state.
In recent years, such abductions have been concentrated primarily in the northwestern and central regions. Here, numerous armed groups frequently target villagers and travelers, demanding substantial ransoms for their release.
