Four days after Monday’s abduction of dozens of students from a secondary school in Maga, Kebbi State, gunmen on Friday stormed the premises of another secondary school, St. Mary’s school, a Catholic institution in Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and abducted over 215 students and 12 staff.

The state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) put the number of the abductees at 227. The Chairman, Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, said 227 persons, comprising 215 students and 12 teachers were abducted during the attack.

“I just returned from the community this night after my visit to the school. I met with some parents of the children and assured them that efforts are being made in collaboration with the government and security agencies to ensure that the children are rescued and brought back safely.

“From our record, 215 pupils and students and 12 teachers were abducted by the terrorists. During the attack, some students escaped and parents have started coming to pick their children because the school has to be shutdown”, he said.

It could not be independently confirm the figure as the police and state government did not provide details despite efforts made by our correspondent.

The terrorists reportedly stormed the school around 2am and shot the security guard before gaining access to school hostel.

A truck seized from the community was reportedly used to move the students out of the school. But the truck was later abandoned after it developed fault and the children were taken into the forest on foot.

The Niger State government, in a statement blamed the management of the school for the incident.

The Secretary to the State government, Abubakar Usman, who issued the statement, said the state received intelligence report of increased security threats in the area and ordered the closure of all boarding schools, but St Mary’s School failed to comply.

“This unfortunate incident comes despite prior intelligence report obtained by the government indicating an increased threat level in parts of Niger North Senatorial District. In response to these credible security alerts, the state government had earlier issued a clear directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure.

“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the state government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,” he said.

Similarly, the Niger State Police Command confirmed the attack and abduction in a statement.

The spokesperson for the Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said joint security operatives have been dispersed to rescue the pupils.

“The Niger State Police Command wishes to confirm that on 21st November, 2025, at about 2.00am, report received indicated that some armed bandits invaded St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School, Papiri Agwara LGA and abducted a yet to be ascertained number of students from the school’s hostel.

“However, police tactical units, military components and other security agencies have moved to the scene, combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students.

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, said teachers were among those kidnapped.

Fr Jatau Luka Joseph, the Diocesan Secretary, confirmed that a security operative was severely injured.

“This is to inform us that armed attackers invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, in the early hours of 2lst November 2025, abducting some pupils, students, teachers, and security personnel who was badly shot. The incident occurred between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m,” he said.

These incidents, coupled with other attacks by gunmen have heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the country. But the frequency with which schools are being targeted has, however, increased in recent times which has led to a disruption of academic activities in many states as schools continue to shut down to avoid falling victims.

The Federal Ministry of Education yesterday directed the immediate shutdown of 41 federal unity colleges nationwide.

According to a circular issued to principals and signed by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, the ministry cited “recent security challenges and the need to prevent any security breaches” as the reason for the action.

“Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed federal unity colleges with immediate effect,” the circular stated.

The affected schools include institutions located in Zaria, Daura, Sokoto, Potiskum, Ikare-Akoko, and Abaji, among others.

The Kwara State government on Thursday ordered the closure of over 50 schools as a result of rampaging bandits while the Katsina State government has also ordered a total shut down of schools in the state.

Also, the Plateau State Government yesterday announced the closure of all junior secondary schools in the state.

Our correspondents learnt that some schools in crisis prone areas have stopped admitting new students due to fear by parents and guardians about the location of the schools.

Save the Children reports that between 2014 and 2022, more than 1,680 schoolchildren were kidnapped in about 70 different incidents. Experts warn that if things continue like that, it would have a devastating effect on children’s education in future.

Hajiya Aisha Haruna Kabuga, State Coordinator of the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN), reveals persistent and increasingly unpredictable raids on schools in states such as Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, and Sokoto. She noted that attacks are expanding beyond conflict-prone areas into previously low-risk communities.

She added that since 2014, more than 1,500 schoolchildren have been abducted across northern Nigeria, with 2025 recording a continuation of mass kidnappings, including the recent Kebbi incident, which CSOs describe as “cyclical.”

She said CSOs have found that criminal gangs are behind such attacks, adding that these gangs employ insurgent-style tactics: using motorcycles, conducting night or early morning raids, targeting boarding schools, and relying heavily on ransom payments.

“Continuous attacks have led to school closures, low attendance, and rising dropout rates. Many families, especially for the safety of their daughters, now keep children out of school. Teachers face threats of abduction and killings, worsening the existing teacher shortage, particularly in rural communities. It is equally important to understand the deep emotional and social impacts on survivors and affected communities,” she added.

Apart from schools, NYSC orientation camps have come under threat that led to their relocation. The NYSC camps in Kaduna, Plateau and others had to be shifted to temporary locations.

Despite official responses, critics argue that the current administration has not effectively addressed the structural weaknesses enabling repeated school attacks.

A UNICEF assessment in 2024 revealed that only 37 per cent of surveyed schools across 10 states had early-warning systems capable of detecting threats indicating that security forces are often deployed reactively rather than proactively, even in states with a long history of attacks.

Some lawmakers recently raised concerns about inadequate police presence in schools, with many institutions lacking even basic protective infrastructure.

The psychological impact of repeated abductions is particularly severe. Many freed hostages suffer long-term trauma, and the pervasive fear has led some communities to contemplate shutting schools altogether. Civil society organisations, including Plan International, have pressed the government to intensify security coordination and prioritise the recovery of kidnapped children.

Some experts argue that ransom-driven banditry—rather than ideological terrorism—lies at the heart of most attacks and requires distinct economic and security measures.

The Safe Schools Initiative

This initiative, according to reports, was launched at the World Economic Forum on Africa by a coalition of Nigerian business leaders working with the United Nations special envoy for Global Education, the Global Business Coalition for Education and World at School.

The 2015 Safe Schools Declaration is an intergovernmental political commitment that allows countries to express support for protecting students, teachers, schools, and universities during armed conflict. It also stresses the importance of uninterrupted education and the need for concrete measures to deter the military use of school facilities. The declaration was officially ratified in 2019, during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, paving the way for Nigeria to establish a national policy guiding its implementation.

The Government of Nigeria, according information obtained by our correspondents launched a fund to support it with an initial contribution from the Federal Government’s numerous pledges from the private sector. The Fund is supposedly managed by the Ministry of Finance.

The declaration, according to researchers, was meant to provide countries with the impetus to express support for the protection of learners, teachers and learning environments from attack during times of armed conflict.

Investigations by our correspondents have shown that despite the initiative, the implementation has been tardy while it has also not done much in preventing such attacks exposing students, teachers, administrators and other stakeholders in the education sector at risks.

The Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is mandated to provide security in schools under the initiative;

Our correspondents who went round some of the affected states which schools are under high risks like Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, came back with reports indicating that more work need to be done.

The safe school initiative centre’s Commander of the NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General Emmanuel Ocheja, did not respond to inquiries about the protection of schools, especially the ones recently attacked in Niger and Kebbi states.

He told our correspondent that he was in Kebbi and was about to go into a meeting, promising to respond to the questions via WhatsApp messages. However, he was yet to respond to questions sent to him as of press

Borno, and Yobe incidents

Borno and Yobe are among the states where the early incidents of young school children abduction reared its head in Nigeria.

The first incident in 2014, happened at Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, where 276 students were abducted by the terrorists, with 87 still in the hands of the captives.

The second incident happened in Yobe State, when 110 school girls were abducted in Dapchi town, in Bursari Local Government Area of the state.

Residents of Chibok told our correspondent that since the abduction, the school is now well fortified with security to protect girls attending classes.

“The school is well fenced as soldiers and civilian JTF are also manning the school 24/7. In fact I have not heard of any school abduction incident in Borno since that one,” one of the residents said.

In Yobe State, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSTC) Dapchi, where 110 school girls were abducted in February 2018, has relocated to Nguru town, Nguru LGA.

One of the teachers in the school said initially, the students were temporarily moved to the Government Girls Secondary School, Nguru, to assess the security situation in Dapchi.

“But, after careful deliberation, the government decided to prolong their stay in Nguru, which is safer,” he said.

He said except for the two students that died in the hands of the captives, only Leah Sharibu is still in captivity out of the 110 students abducted.

“You can see how time flies, some of the students have graduated from the university and are married,” he said.

A mother of one of the abducted Chibok girls, Ladi Lawan, said, “For me and other young parents, we have the strength to withstand the pain, unlike the aged parents. As it is now, some of them have been weighed down by heart-related illnesses and cannot even walk to the toilet”.

She said her daughter, Aisha, was 16 years when she was abducted by the insurgents but will be a young woman by now.

Another parent, Nkeki Mutah, said two of his nieces, under his care, were abducted by the insurgents. “I share the same pain as their parents, because I was their guardian,” he said.

He expressed regret that the government has yet to rescue the girls years after the incident.

Niger: Fear of further attacks

With the spate of kidnappings, particularly targeting schools in Niger State, there is growing concern on the predisposition of students and parents to education, particularly in Niger North.

In 2021, two schools – Government Science College, Kagara and Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School were attacked and many students kidnapped.

First, it was in Government Science College, Kagara in February 2021, where no fewer than 27 students, three staff and 13 members of their families were kidnapped.

The kidnappers later invaded the Salihu Tanko Islamiyyah School, Tegina, in June the same year taking away no fewer than 90 pupils.

Since then, Government Science College, Kagara, has remained closed and converted to a temporary camp for security operatives deployed to the area.

While Weekend Trust could not obtain the latest data, the 2023 data from the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in 2023, showed that 11, 113 children were out of school while over 400 primary and secondary schools were closed in the state due to insecurity.

In 2021, the schools closed and relocated by the state government include; Teacher’s Professional Development Institute, Dandaudu, Munya LGA, Government Science College, Kagara and Mamman Kontagora Technical College, Pandogari, Rafi LGA.

Residents told our correspondent that no fewer than 11 nomadic designated schools in Rafi LGA were also forced to close while most of the pupils attending the affected schools dropped out.

For primary schools in Uregi, Kukogi, Luga, Faran-Kasa and Tashan-Dogo among other villages in Rafi LGA, teaching and learning are either not stable or completely absent due to fear of attacks and kidnapping with some of the residents still living as IDPs in Kagara, the Rafi LGA headquarters.

However, in Shiroro LGA, Central Primary School, Allawa; Government Secondary School, Allawa; Model primary school, Allawa; Gyaramiya Primary School; UBE Primary School, Samunaka; Gurmana Primary School; UBE Primary School, Plalali; Bassa Primary School; Kwaki Primary School; Chukuba Primary School; and UBE Primary School, Rumace among others have been completely abandoned due to persistent attacks. For instance, Allawa community with three public schools, has been completely deserted since 2024, following the withdrawal of soldiers from the area.

Similarly, In Mariga LGA, the schools forced to shut down due to insecurity include; Central Primary School, Ragada, L.E.A Primary School, Kadago-Gari, L. E. A Primary School, Faransi, Central Primary School, Mazame-Gari, L.E.A Primary School, Masawaci, among others.

“All these schools have been shut down for a long time due to the fear of bandits. Among the listed schools, only Central Primary School, Ragada and the other primary school in Ukari have been reopened and even in the two schools, learning has not been stable because each time there’s movement of bandits around our area, they can spend three to five weeks without attending classes”, one of the teachers told Weekend Trust on telephone.

On assumption of office in 2023, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, pledged to build mega schools with modern facilities before the relocation of some boarding schools that shut due to insecurity.

Kebbi

The Monday morning attack at the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School Maga, Kebbi State, is currently causing panic among parents with children in boarding schools.

Following the development, all boarding schools in the state were closed down on Friday. Government said the decision was to protect the schools from further attack and for the safety of students pending when the security challenge would be addressed. It directed immediate compliance and closure of the schools while urging parents to pick up their children and wards. It said the decision remains until government finds suitable schools to relocate the affected students.

Speaking to our correspondent, Mrs. Beatrice Mathew said the feeling now is that boarding schools are the target of the bandits. “I have a daughter at the Federal Government College in Gwandu. My husband was there yesterday to check on her. We are even planning to move her back home because of the current incidents. We don’t feel the children are safe any longer in these schools as there are no enough security personnel on ground to protect them against any attack”, she said.

She said most parents are worried about the safety of the children in the schools, particularly the girls, who she said are mostly the target of the criminal elements.

Malam Lawal Aliyu, a shop owner at the Alieru Abdul area of Birnin Kebbi, said the incident at Maga in Danko Wasagu area of Zuru Emirate is a devastating development to girl-child education

“Though, I don’t have a child in the boarding school; my four children are in day schools, but I must tell you that no reasonable or responsible parents would want his child either girl or boy to still be in a boarding school at this period given the incident at Maga. Every parent is afraid of the continued stay of their children and wards at the schools. Government should act fast to restore security in parts of the state to restore the confidence of parents in the system,” he said.

Our correspondent observed that most schools in the state are fenced, but that has not prevented the attacks on the students. A principal in one of the government schools in the state, Abdulrahman Bello Ango, “the problem is that this does not prevent the bandits from scaling through. The Federal Government Girls Secondary School in Birnin Yauri was fenced, yet they found their way into it and abducted over 80 students. The same thing with the Maga Girls school, which they attacked on Monday. It is fenced, but we heard they got into the school by climbing over the fence. Maybe government should barricade their school fence with barbwires to make it difficult for intruders to get into the premises.”

A teacher, Malam Sani Gwadangwaji, said more security guards are needed in the schools to serve as deterrent to any intruder. He said most of the schools lack guards. “The highest number of guards you find in any of the schools is one or two. Look at this our Unity School, how many guards do we have? just two. One of them is a gate man. It means we only have a guardsman for the whole school given its size and environment. I think the school authorities need to do more on this and engage more guards for the security of the school and its students. I think most of the schools are porous and lack adequate security arrangements”, he said.

Malam Nasiru Yusuf is a relative of one of the abducted schoolgirls. He said the parents are still devastated by the incident. “One of the daughters of my sister is among the girls that were abducted. They are traumatised. It has not been easy for the family since that incident. We just continue to pray for their,” he said.

A student at the Unity School in the state, Fatimah Usman, said, “We are scared due to the incident at Maga. Every one of us at the hostel is feeling unsafe. Government should close down the hostels for now so that we can go home and return when the security challenge is relaxed. And if they close the school, we hope they will return us as quickly as possible to continue our studies when things get better.”

Aishatu Bello, a JS3 student at the school said its better for government to allow them go home for now. She said, “We hope to return when necessary things are done for our safety.”

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the state, Dr Halimatu Muhammad Bande, yesterday said Governor Nasir Idris and the federal government have put measures in place to protect the students against any further attack just as they were working to secure the release the students from the bandits. She urged parents and people of the state to continue to pray for the abducted girls. “We don’t know where they are and what they are doing to them, but God will bring them back to us safely,” she said.

As both the state and federal governments intensify efforts with the engagement of joint security personnel to rescue the abducted schoolgirls, some members of the hunters/forest guards in Zuru area of the state said they and some volunteer community members are also searching the forest for the girls. Malam Nura Rikoto, a member of the search group said they would not give up until the girls are brought back home.

Kano moves to safeguard schools

In Kano State, the issue of school fencing became more pronounced after the January 20, 2012 terrorists attack. Following security directives issued after the incident—especially in response to increasing high-profile attacks and abductions in northern Nigeria, the then Kano State government and education authorities intensified efforts to improve school security, including perimeter fencing. Under the fencing programme, several schools across the state were fenced, although a few schools, mostly in rural areas, remained unfenced.

In November 2022, the Kano State government, through the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), launched a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative to renovate dilapidated schools. This included the approval of a model that incorporated perimeter fencing with corner shops built into fence lines as part of a security and maintenance revenue system.

It was gathered that schools in metropolitan Kano were fenced and provided with lighting. However, over the years, the lighting infrastructure was vandalised, leaving many schools fenced but without illumination.

Following the Kebbi school attack, the Kano State government has commenced efforts to strengthen school security by approving and commencing the issuance of appointment letters to 1,600 newly recruited watchmen deployed across secondary schools. This is part of the government’s measures to safeguard schools across the state.

The governor explained that the watchmen will serve as frontline security personnel by safeguarding school premises, monitoring unauthorised activities, and supporting the smooth running of academic operations.

In Kaduna State, a community leader in Udawa Town under Chikun LGA, Muhammad Hussaini, said the only primary school within the community was fenced years back.

He said even the only junior secondary school that was located on the outskirts of the community and was shut down years back due to insecurity was reopened but not fenced. He explained that the school is not far from where soldiers were deployed in the area.

He added that the Kuriga school where students were abducted a year ago was fenced and completely renovated.

Another Kaduna resident at Kajuru Local Government Area, Muhammad Tukur, said the primary school inside Kajuru town was fenced years back at the peak of insecurity.

But he mentioned that the LEA at Bodah village and the one at Maraban Kajuru were still in bad shape.

“We are still witnessing insecurity challenges, but the schools here are still not fenced. We are pleading with the government to do the needful to protect the schools and the children,” he said.

Zamfara converts boarding schools

Since the incident at Jangebe Girls Secondary School, where over 300 schoolgirls were abducted by armed bandits in February 2021, all state government owned boarding schools were converted into day schools.

However, the three Command Secondary Schools (boarding) located in Kaura Namoda, Gusau and Talata Mafara are still operating as boarding schools with a heavy presence of armed soldiers guarding the students.

Also, the three Federal Colleges of Education in Anka, Moriki and Gusau are operating as boarding schools under the watch of armed mobile policemen deployed to the school to protect the students.

Jangebe Girls Secondary School was attacked by the bandits in February 2021 and over 300 schoolgirls were abducted during the incident. Findings by our correspondent indicated that since the incident, the school was converted into day and academic activities resumed.

However, investigation revealed that most of the abducted students after they regained freedom were taken back to their respective hometowns and re-enrolled into Day schools, while those from Talata Mafara and environs returned to the school and continued with their studies as Day students.

Although the school was converted into a Day school, additional members of the local vigilante and personnel of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG) have been deployed to the school to ensure safety of both the students and teachers.

Weekend Trust also gathered that a military base was formed directly behind the institution, just a few meters away from its fence. However, despite these measures, our correspondent observed that hundreds of students of the university are still living in private hostels located outside the perimeter of the university, thereby exposing themselves to banditry attack.

Further investigation by our correspondent indicated that while all public boarding schools in Zamfara State were converted into Day schools, most primary and secondary schools across the 23 local governments of the state were completely shut down due to attacks.

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Anka, a father of seven told Weekend Trust that only three schools; a junior secondary school and two primary schools are operating in the whole of Anka local government, while the others have either been taken over by soldiers or reptiles, adding that the three surviving schools are enjoying protection from the troops.

Malam Sanusi Isa Gummi told Daily Trust that the only secondary school in the town, Government Secondary School, Gummi, was converted into Day school, noting that “even though it is a Day school now, the government has fenced it. The fencing work was just completed last week and students are conducting their academic activities.

“The school has never witnessed banditry attack but as a preventive measure it was converted into a Day school. Even so, some local guards have been deployed to the school and members of our local vigilante group are also complementing the government’s efforts in protecting the school. They patrol the area during the night,” he said.

Gummi lamented that the government is not providing enough protection to schools to convince both parents and students to patronise them.

UNICEF seeks effective implementation of the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called for stronger protection measures for children and educational institutions nationwide.

In a statement signed by UNICEF Communication Specialist, Sussan Akila, the organisation emphasised the importance of Nigeria’s 2015 endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration which is a global commitment to safeguard schools from attacks and military use. UNICEF urged government agencies and stakeholders to intensify efforts toward full implementation of the declaration to guarantee safer learning environments.

It was further gathered that under the UNICEF Education and Youth Empowerment Project in Northern Nigeria (EYEPINN), funded by the European Union (EU) in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States, efforts are ongoing to expand access to safe, inclusive learning spaces and address gender-based violence.

Educationists speak

Kano-based educationist, Malam Idris Basheer, many experts agree that safe schools are foundational to achieving quality education, noting that students and teachers cannot concentrate on teaching and learning in unsafe environments. He explained that this aligns with broader global research that identifies safe-school initiatives as essential for access and continuity in education.

He also revealed that educationists in Kano have welcomed the government’s recent partnerships with the police and other security agencies, describing it as a positive step toward safer schools. He added that supporting agencies have trained over 40 education stakeholders, teachers and administrators on school safety, security, and climate literacy.

“Educationists value this approach because it builds local capacity. It is not only reactive but also preventive. Teachers are now learning early warning signs and how to maintain a safe learning environment. ‘Safety’ is not only about violent threats like kidnappings; it also includes gender-based violence, harassment, and climate-related risks,” he said.

Kano-based security expert, Detective Auwal Bala Durumin Iya, commended the state government for employing security guards to protect schools, noting that the need for school security is both apparent and important. However, he stressed that for the initiative to be effective, several issues must be addressed.

“Providing security in schools is indeed commendable, but considering the number of schools in Kano State, 1,600 security guards are not enough. The critical question is: Are these newly recruited guards trained? Who trained them, and what kind of training did they receive?

Security is dynamic and constantly changing. Security managers must stay updated on emerging security trends to discharge their duties effectively. What the state government has done is a positive step, but more needs to be done in terms of training, retraining, and increasing the number of security personnel. Security is sacrosanct to human survival,” he said.

Atiku demands state of emergency over insecurity

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded for a state of emergency to tackle the prevailing insecurity in the country.

Atiku, who was reacting to the latest abduction of students in Niger State, wondered how many people would be affected before the government will act decisively.

In a post on his social media platforms, he said, “How many more lives must be shattered before decisive action is taken?”

Northern govs urge quick rescue

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has expressed distress over the kidnapping of pupils and teachers. It called on the security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted children.

The Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the incident as a disturbing and unacceptable affront on the safety of children, reiterating that schools must remain centres of learning, not spaces for violence.

In a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the NSGF warned that Northern Nigeria cannot afford further setbacks in its collective push to mop up out-of-school children and return them to the classroom.

“As a Forum, we have consistently maintained that schools must remain sanctuaries of learning and growth, not theatres of fear, violence or terror. Northern Nigeria already contends with significant challenges and educational setbacks, and we cannot allow criminal elements to derail our collective efforts at returning out-of-school children back into the classroom,” he said.

Governor Yahaya said the forum is deeply worried and saddened by this ugly trend, especially at a time when governments across the North are investing heavily in creating safe, conducive and resilient learning environments.

The abductions

In April 2014, no less than 276 girls were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. A month before the Chibok incident, a school in the same axis in Buni Yadi of Yobe State was attacked and 59 students were killed and several buildings within the school were set ablaze.

The attacks continued at no specified intervals, but with no less ferocity as it happened in Dapchi, Yobe State in February 2018; at Kankara in December 2020; Kagara in Niger State in February 2021; Jangebe, Zamfara State in February 2021; Kaduna, March 2021, Birnin Gwari in March 2021: Greenfield University, April 2021; Tegina, Niger State, May 2021; Yauri, Kebbi State, June 2021; Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, September 2023; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, October 2023.

On March 7 2024, Nigeria witnessed one of its largest school kidnappings in years when about 287 students and staff were seized from a government-owned primary and secondary school in Kuriga, Kaduna State.

A day later, gunmen stormed a Tsangaya (Qur’anic) school in Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto State, taking roughly 15 children between the ages of 8 and 14. Kidnappers also struck in Ekiti State, where six pupils, three teachers, and a bus driver from a private school were abducted as their captors demanded N30 million in ransom.

These abductions have largely been concentrated in northern and northwestern states and often target girls’ schools. (Credit: Weekend Trust, but headline rejigged)