“Aminu Jibril, a resident of Kuriga village in Kaduna state, where the school is situated, recounted receiving a call from an undisclosed number yesterday afternoon, around 12:16 PM. The caller demanded a ransom of 1 billion naira ($621,848) for the release of the kidnapped students. Jibril emphasized that the ultimatum provided by the kidnappers is set at three weeks or 20 days from the date of the abduction. If no action is taken by the government within this timeframe, the kidnappers threatened to harm all the abducted children,” Jibril stated.
The recent kidnapping of over 287 school children in Nigeria has once again brought to light the alarming trend of mass abductions for ransom by armed bandits. Occurring in the Kaduna state’s Chikun district, this brazen attack targeted the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, sending shockwaves across the region. According to reports, the perpetrators, riding motorcycles, stormed the school in the early hours of March 7th, abducting students from both the primary and secondary sections. The motive behind the kidnapping, as revealed by the kidnappers themselves, was to retaliate against the government and security agencies for their actions against their gang members. Tragically, a member of the Kuriga community lost their life while attempting to confront the abductors during the attack, underscoring the grave risks faced by those living in areas plagued by such violence.
Kaduna state, located near the Nigerian capital Abuja, has witnessed a troubling surge in kidnappings in recent years, with armed bandits targeting schools and communities for ransom. This incident is not an isolated one; rather, it adds to a distressing pattern of mass abductions that have plagued the region. In 2021 alone, over 140 students were kidnapped from a private secondary school in Kaduna, highlighting the severity of the security challenges faced by residents. Moreover, just months before this latest incident, gunmen abducted around 20 students from a private university in Kasarami village, with devastating consequences. Despite efforts by authorities to secure the release of the abducted students, tragically, five of them lost their lives after a ransom deadline was not met.
