Armed men raided a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria, taking 15 children while they slept. This incident occurred just two days after nearly 300 students were abducted in the conflict-affected region. School abductions have become a common occurrence in Nigeria's northern area, with over 1,400 individuals kidnapped since the infamous 2014 incident in Chibok village.
The gunmen struck the Gidan Bakuso village in Sokoto state during the early hours of the morning, targeting an Islamic school. They swiftly seized the children from their hostel before security forces could intervene. Additionally, one woman was also abducted from the village.
Authorities deployed a police tactical squad to search for the missing students. However, the challenging terrain and inaccessible roads in the remote village hindered the rescue operation, forcing the squad to utilize motorcycles to reach the location.
This recent attack marks the third mass kidnapping in northern Nigeria within a week. The surge in abductions underscores the prevailing security crisis in the country, with ransom kidnappings proving to be a lucrative venture for armed gangs operating in the region.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions. While Islamic extremists are suspected in the Borno state incident, local sources attribute the school kidnappings to herders engaged in conflicts with host communities.
Vice President Kashim Shettima met with authorities and parents of the abducted students in Kaduna state, offering assurances of ongoing efforts by security forces to locate and rescue the missing children.
