315 Students Abducted in Nigeria’s Latest Mass Kidnapping
A Christian advocacy group has confirmed that 315 students were abducted in a brazen overnight attack on a secondary school in Kaduna State, Nigeria. This marks one of the largest mass kidnappings in the country’s history, reigniting global outrage over Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.
Attack Details: How the Kidnapping Unfolded
Armed militants, suspected to be bandits with jihadist ties, stormed the Government Secondary School in Kuriga early Thursday. Witnesses reported gunfire as attackers overpowered security and forced students—some as young as 7 years old—into nearby forests.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the abduction as a “targeted attack on education,” while Kaduna Governor Uba Sani confirmed the incident but withheld exact figures pending further updates from security forces.
A Growing Crisis: Nigeria’s History of School Abductions
This kidnapping follows a brutal pattern since Boko Haram’s 2014 Chibok abduction of 276 girls. Recent incidents include:
– 2021: 300+ students kidnapped in Katsina State
– 2024 (February): 200 displaced persons abducted in Borno State
Critics accuse the government of failing to secure schools, particularly in remote regions where armed groups operate freely.
Religious Tensions and Government Response
The involvement of CAN highlights Nigeria’s volatile religious divide, with Kaduna being a hotspot for Muslim-Christian tensions. While the kidnappers’ motives remain unclear, analysts warn extremists may exploit these divisions.
President Bola Tinubu faces mounting pressure over stalled security reforms. Despite military operations and sporadic negotiations, mass kidnappings persist, with victims often released only after ransom payments.
Outrage and Demands for Action
Parents of the abducted children gathered at the school, pleading for government intervention. One mother cried, “We don’t know if they’ll return.”
Social media campaigns like #BringBackOurBoys (echoing #BringBackOurGirls) demand international involvement, with calls for the UN and African Union to assist.
Will Nigeria End the Cycle of Violence?
Experts argue that without addressing poverty, unemployment, and corruption, kidnappings will continue. For now, the nation awaits updates on the 315 missing students—whose plight underscores Nigeria’s urgent security breakdown.
— NextMinuteNews
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