Wave of Terror Grips Northern Nigeria: Over 800 Kidnapped in School Attacks

In a week marred by violence and fear, over 800 individuals, primarily schoolchildren, fell victim to brazen terrorist attacks across Northern Nigeria, intensifying concerns about the safety of educational institutions.

According to reports, the onslaught began on Wednesday, March 6, and persisted until Monday, March 11, with daring terrorists orchestrating a series of abductions. Amnesty International disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents abducted more than 400 individuals, predominantly women and children, from Borno State. The victims, displaced from their homes and seeking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons camps, were ambushed while gathering firewood in the Gamboru Ngala council area.

Following this devastating incident, on March 8, bandits struck Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, abducting over 280 pupils and teachers. The assailants, armed and ruthless, launched a dawn raid on the Kuriga area of Chikun Local Government Area, indiscriminately firing upon their targets before vanishing with the abducted victims.

In a disturbing trend, the violence extended beyond school settings. In Buda community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, over 61 individuals were kidnapped, with at least four fatalities reported.

The wave of terror also engulfed Gidan Bakuso village in the Gada council area of Sokoto State, where approximately 15 children were abducted from a boarding school.

Tragically, the week witnessed a grim death toll in Benue State as well. More than 50 individuals, including a family of seven, lost their lives in an attack on Gbagir community in Ukum Local Government Area. Additionally, on March 8, 16 people were killed during an assault on Wa-ndoo community in Mbalom, Gwer-East Local Government Area, allegedly carried out by armed herders.

The recent surge in violence has reignited anxieties reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, prompting widespread concern among parents and communities. Rumors of impending attacks in schools, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, have amplified apprehensions, with some schools reportedly adjusting their schedules to accommodate safety measures.

Expressing her apprehension, Mrs. Maria Adakwu, a concerned parent, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced security measures across schools in Abuja, citing the traumatic memory of the Federal Government College, FGC, Kwali attack in February 2022.

Responding to the escalating fears, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, reassured the public of the safety of schools within the territory, asserting robust security measures in place.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, residents of Chikun Local Government have begun withdrawing their children from public schools amid mounting insecurity. Although state authorities remain silent on the matter, security sources confirm the palpable fear gripping the region.

In the face of mounting adversity, the Federal Government announced its resolve not to negotiate ransom for the release of the kidnapped pupils and teachers from Kuriga, Kaduna State. Offers of assistance from the United States and other nations are being evaluated as efforts intensify to secure the safe return of the abducted victims.