By Were Kelly
Gunmen have abducted an estimated 315 students and teachers from a school in northern Nigeria, local authorities reported today, in the second mass school kidnapping to rock the nation in less than a week.
The attack has plunged the country into a deepening national security crisis and evoked traumatic memories of the Chibok abductions that occurred over a decade ago.
The assault took place overnight at a secondary school in the state, with witnesses describing armed men storming the premises and herding pupils away into nearby forests.
The swift succession of raids has exposed the government’s inability to secure vast regions of the north from criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, who routinely carry out kidnappings for ransom.
A representative from a local Christian association reported profound trauma among those who escaped or were left behind.
“These children are being used as pawns. The psychological scars on the survivors, the families, and the entire community are immeasurable,” the representative said.
In response, vigils and protests have erupted in the region, with communities demanding immediate and decisive action from the federal government. The echoes of the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction, where over 270 students were seized, have intensified public anger and despair.
A security analyst covering the region stated, “This is not just a security failure; it’s a catastrophic governance failure. The blueprint for these attacks was laid years ago, and the state has failed to learn the lessons or develop an effective counter-strategy.”
The frequency and scale of the kidnappings suggest the criminal gangs are growing ever more brazen and organised.
The government has pledged to secure the students’ safe return, but with hundreds still held from the previous week’s attack, resources and public confidence are stretched to a breaking point.
The nation now holds its breath, waiting for news of the missing and fearing the next target.
Source: AFP
