315 Students and Staff Abducted in One of Nigeria’s Largest Mass Kidnappings
In one of Nigeria’s worst mass kidnappings, armed attackers abducted 315 students and staff from a secondary school in Kaduna State. The raid—blamed on bandits—has triggered nationwide panic and renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
The Attack: How It Happened
Gunmen stormed the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara late Wednesday, firing shots and overpowering security before herding victims into nearby forests. Witnesses described chaos as parents awoke to find their children missing.
Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai confirmed 315 students remain missing, though some reports suggest higher numbers. Distraught families have launched search efforts as authorities deploy troops to track the kidnappers.
Nigeria’s History of School Abductions
This marks one of the largest mass kidnappings since Boko Haram’s 2014 abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls. Bandit groups now frequently target schools for ransom, with hundreds still missing from past raids.
Why Are Schools Targeted?
- High-profile victims force government negotiations
- Easier to control children than armed adults
- Global attention pressures authorities to act
Government Response & Public Anger
President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack and ordered a rescue operation. But Nigerians accuse leaders of failing to prevent repeated kidnappings despite military pledges.
#BringBackOurBoys trends on social media, echoing the 2014 #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Parents demand action: “How many more children must disappear?”
International Reactions
- UNICEF calls for urgent child protections
- U.S./UK issue travel warnings for Kaduna
- Neighboring countries boost border security
What’s Next?
Past kidnappings show ransom payouts or prolonged negotiations, but many victims never return. Without stronger security, experts warn Nigeria’s schools remain vulnerable.
Live updates: Follow #KankaraKidnap for developments.
(Word count: 320 – Condensed for SEO clarity while retaining key details.)
