ABUJA, Nigeria — More than 80 students have been kidnapped from Nigerian schools during a series of militant raids over the past week, according to local authorities and human rights organizations who reported the incidents on Sunday. The attacks represent the most recent wave of school abductions plaguing the West African nation as officials continue fighting various extremist and armed factions.
Armed groups struck an elementary school located in Borno state, situated in Nigeria’s northeastern region, during the timeframe spanning Wednesday through Thursday. During this assault, militants seized 42 students from the Askira Uba and Chibok regions.
According to Amnesty International, this raid occurred in Mussa village, positioned near Sambisa Forest — a known base for Boko Haram militants and their breakaway faction, which operates as an Islamic State affiliate called the Islamic State West Africa Province.
In Nigeria’s southwestern territory, armed groups struck two high schools in Oyo state within hours of each other on Friday, resulting in the kidnapping of at least 40 students, Amnesty’s Nigeria division reported. These types of abductions occur infrequently in this specific region.
The human rights organization issued a warning Sunday that abduction fears are driving numerous children away from educational institutions, while families are removing young girls from schools and forcing them into marriages as a protective measure against these attacks.
Peter Wabba, a government representative from Mussa, stated Sunday that he received information indicating the “exact number” of children taken from Oyo was 48.
“The government is assuring us that they are doing their possible best to see that these children are rescued but up till now, we are still waiting,” he told The Associated Press.
Amnesty also stated that officials “never fulfill promises to investigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“Victims and their families continue to be denied access to justice,” it said.
On Saturday, police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka informed the AP that authorities had detained three armed suspects related to the Oyo assault, which occurred in the Oriire region, approximately 220 kilometers (135 miles) from Lagos city.
Community members identified the suspects, leading to their arrests, Olayinka explained. Authorities did not indicate whether they were pursuing additional suspects.
Student kidnappings occur frequently throughout Nigeria, Africa’s most densely populated country, particularly in northern territories. During the previous year, two large-scale school abductions shocked the nation, with over 300 children taken from northern area institutions.
Educational facility kidnappings have become synonymous with Nigeria’s security crisis, and experts suggest this occurs because criminal organizations view schools as valuable targets they can use to generate greater public attention.
