In a devastating security incident that has shocked the nation, more than 200 students were forcibly taken from their school in northern Nigeria by armed gunmen. The mass kidnapping occurred at the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, located in Kaduna state's Chikun district.
Details of the Attack
The terrifying incident unfolded on Thursday morning when motorcycle-riding attackers stormed the educational institution. According to local authorities and community leaders, the assailants surrounded the school premises and began shooting indiscriminately into the air to create panic and confusion.
Local community leader Jubril Aminu provided crucial details about the scale of the abduction, confirming that the kidnappers took 187 students from the secondary school section and an additional 125 pupils from the primary school. This brings the total number of missing students to over 200, though exact numbers continue to be verified by authorities.
Response and Condemnation
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly condemned the attack, expressing deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in the region. The religious organization highlighted the growing pattern of attacks on educational institutions in northern Nigeria, which has become particularly alarming in recent years.
Security forces have launched a massive search operation across the region, with military personnel and police combing nearby forests and rural areas where the kidnappers are believed to have taken the students. The Kaduna state government has confirmed the incident and assured citizens that all necessary resources are being deployed to secure the safe return of the abducted children.
Broader Security Crisis
This mass kidnapping represents one of the largest school abductions in Nigeria since the infamous Chibok incident in 2014, when Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. The northern regions of Nigeria have experienced repeated security challenges, with armed groups frequently targeting schools, villages, and travelers for ransom payments.
The timing of this attack is particularly concerning as it occurs during morning school hours, demonstrating the brazen nature of the perpetrators. Local residents reported hearing sustained gunfire during the attack, which caused widespread panic throughout the community.
Parents and family members of the abducted students have gathered near the school, awaiting any information about their children's whereabouts. The emotional scenes highlight the human tragedy behind these security statistics, with families facing an uncertain and terrifying wait for news about their loved ones.
International human rights organizations and educational advocates have called for immediate action to address the security vulnerabilities facing schools in conflict-affected regions of Nigeria. The pattern of targeting educational institutions not only endangers young lives but also threatens the fundamental right to education for millions of Nigerian children.
