News coming in indicates that dozens of school pupils have been abducted by gunmen in Nigeria. According to report, more than 280 pupils aged between 8 and 15, along with a teacher, were abducted by a group of gunmen on motorcycles. This happened in the north-western town of Kuriga in Nigeria,
The chilling event occurred during the morning assembly around 08:30, sending shockwaves through the community. Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying scene as the armed assailants stormed the school grounds, swiftly seizing the unsuspecting children and staff.
This brazen act of violence is not an isolated incident but rather part of a disturbing trend plaguing the region. Kidnap gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, have wrought havoc across Nigeria, particularly in the north-western territories. Despite efforts to curb such atrocities, the mass abduction in Kuriga serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by these criminal elements.
The governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, confirmed the distressing news, revealing that 187 students from a secondary school and 125 from a local primary school were among the missing. However, amidst the despair, there was a glimmer of hope as 25 individuals managed to escape or were released.
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President Bola Tinubu expressed his confidence in the rescue efforts and pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable for their heinous actions. He empathized with the affected families, acknowledging the anguish they must be enduring, and vowed to mobilize security and intelligence agencies to swiftly address the situation.
Tragically, one student, believed to be 14 years old, succumbed to injuries sustained during the ordeal, underscoring the brutality of the attackers. Survivors recounted tales of terror, including a lack of food and the desperate attempts of locals to intervene, resulting in further bloodshed.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this senseless act, the armed forces have initiated a comprehensive operation to locate and rescue the abducted children. The resolve of the governor to leave no child behind underscores the collective determination to restore safety and security to Kuriga and beyond.
While the immediate focus remains on the rescue mission, questions linger about the broader societal implications of such rampant violence. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges facing Nigeria and the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the root causes of insecurity plaguing the nation.