Nigeria's School Kidnappings: A Growing Crisis

In Nigeria, a troubling trend of school kidnappings continues to escalate. Recently, 50 out of 303 students taken from a Catholic school in Niger state managed to escape. These kids, aged 10 to 18, found their way back to their families between Friday and Saturday. However, 253 students and 12 teachers remain in the hands of their abductors. Meanwhile, in Kwara state, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a church attack were freed. This attack, which happened on Tuesday, left two people dead. President Bola Tinubu credited security agencies for their release, though details remain scarce. Nigeria is facing a wave of violent incidents, adding to the country's ongoing security challenges. In the northeast, five police officers were killed in an ambush while responding to a farmer-herder conflict. Two other officers were injured in the attack, which took place in Sabon Sara village, Darazo area of Bauchi state. The recent school abduction in Niger state's remote Papiri community has drawn international attention. Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness over the incident and called for the immediate release of the hostages. He urged authorities to take swift action to ensure their safe return. School kidnappings have become a common tactic for armed gangs in Nigeria. Since the infamous Chibok schoolgirls' kidnapping over a decade ago, at least 1, 500 students have been seized. Many of these children were only released after ransoms were paid. The Niger state attack occurred just days after 25 schoolchildren were kidnapped in neighboring Kebbi state. Both states are in northern Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently target remote communities with little government presence. In response to the recent attacks, Niger state has closed all schools, and some federal colleges in conflict hot spots across the region have also been shut down. President Tinubu has vowed not to relent until every hostage is freed, emphasizing the right to safety for all Nigerians.