Over 130 Nigerian schoolchildren who were held captive for two weeks have finally been reunited with their families. This has brought hope amidst the sorrow that has taken hold of the nation. The rescue operation also highlights the alarming trend of mass abductions that continue to plague the region—Nigeria’s education system.
A mix of relief and sadness marked the children’s homecoming, as it was revealed that six students remain hospitalized, and tragically, one staff member lost their life during the traumatic episode, according to military sources.
The distressing saga unfolded on March 7th when armed assailants, riding motorcycles, forcibly abducted the students from their school in Kuriga, Kaduna state.
Thanks to a coordinated rescue effort led by the military, the children were located in a forest approximately 120 miles away in Zamfara state. However, details of the operation remain undisclosed.
Upon their return, the children, many of whom are under the age of 10, bore visible signs of their ordeal, sporting freshly cut hair and new clothing — their first change since the abduction. While six students continue to receive medical care, Major General Mayirenso Saraso has assured their release once they are deemed fit by doctors.
Initial confusion surrounded the number of students kidnapped, with school authorities initially reporting 287 cases, a figure later clarified by Kaduna Governor Uba Sani to be 137 confirmed cases.
Governor Sani expressed gratitude for the children’s safe return, although logistical constraints prevented their families from being present, and media interaction was limited.
Jubril Kuriga, one of the parents, spoke of the agonizing wait, describing sleepless nights filled with longing for the safe return of their children. This ordeal underscores the persistent threat to education in Nigeria, with over 1,400 students abducted since the notorious 2014 Chibok incident.
Such abductions predominantly afflict the conflict-ridden north-western and central regions, where various armed groups perpetrate violence, targeting villagers and travelers for ransom.
