In a harrowing incident that has become all too familiar in Nigeria’s Kaduna State, armed bandits have once again struck at the heart of education, abducting at least 287 students from the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village.
The abduction, which occurred early Thursday, has left families and communities reeling, as their dreams of providing their children with a brighter future through education are shattered.
Among the abducted students are children as young as eight years old, their innocence robbed by the senseless act of violence. The gunmen, riding on motorcycles, stormed the school premises in a brazen attack that has left the local community traumatized and demanding immediate action from authorities.
Governor Uba Sani, in a statement, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, assuring that the state government is “doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the pupils and students.” However, the recurring nature of such incidents in Kaduna has raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing security measures.
The abduction has once again highlighted the ongoing struggle to protect educational institutions and the right to education in the region. Amnesty International’s Nigeria office has condemned the kidnapping, urging authorities to take immediate measures to prevent such attacks and safeguard the lives and futures of innocent children.
Kaduna State has become a hotbed for kidnappings for ransom by armed bandits, with several mass abductions reported in recent years. In 2021, at least 140 students were kidnapped from a private secondary school, while five students from a private university in the same district were killed after a ransom deadline was not met.
The latest incident has reignited the call for a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of such violence and ensure the safety of educational institutions. As families anxiously await the return of their children, the abduction serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities seeking to provide their children with the fundamental right to education in a secure environment.
