Last Friday, a tragic incident happened in a girls’ boarding school in Jangebe in northwestern Nigeria. Armed men had ambushed the girls boarding school, destroyed property, and then abducted the girls. The institution authorities, parents, and the state were all worried. Such cases had seen a rise over the past weeks in the country.
Nevertheless, after unending negotiations, the rebels freed about 279 girls. Although the authorities are not exactly sure of the number of girls kidnapped, they are optimistic that all the girls were released. Soon after they were released, they were rushed to the health units to confirm their health status. The head of state, Mr. Buhari, expressed his joy having seen the girls safe and sound. He assured the people that they would enact more stringent legislation to curb the country’s militia attacks.
The Reunion
On Wednesday, the hundreds of schoolgirls who were once victims of abduction reunited with their families. There was so much excitement as families could not wait to see their children again. Sources reported that parents could be seen struggling to enter the school gate to confirm their safe return.
Abdullahi Anka, a father of three released girls, was so happy when he had the exciting news. He had spent the last couple of days worrying over what might happen to her girls. Being a father of four girls and only seeing one was a worrying moment for him.
Official reports on the incident confirmed that armed groups operating in the region were responsible for staging the attacks. The militia groups, infamously known as the Boko Haram, have been staging the area’s attacks for years ago, destroying, killing, and looting property. It has been noted that they kidnap to demand ransom or release of their members from jail. The recent mass abduction triggered the Chibok incident trauma when the Boko Haram jihadists seized 276 school girls. To date, some of them have not reunited with their families.
One Dies Amid Shoot Out
Many had gathered in the school, with some flocking over the fences to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The shoot occurred when the crowds started forcing their way into the school. The officers were trying to disperse them. Local reports stated that two people sustained injuries while at least one died after the officers fired live bullets.
There is no exact information on what happened, though some sources revealed that the policemen began shooting when some youths started hurling stones at the Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs’ convoy. Inside the school, angry parents who heard gunshots’ sounds decided to vacate the premises and take their daughters to safety.
Some of the parents living in the town’s outskirts had to travel long distances to reach their homes, which are also prone to insurgencies. Most of the kidnapped girls were aged six to ten, and they were so happy to see their families. Following the shoot-out and attempted chaos, Zamfara state’s government declared a curfew without providing further details.
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