For months now, kidnap cases have been on the rise in northwestern Nigeria. Many children, precisely students, have gone missing. The big question, however, is why the surge in the abductions? Sources reveal that armed groups in the state are responsible for perpetrating such acts to exploit the government.
The Recent Attack
An unknown number of school children went missing after a recent attack in a primary school in Nigeria. This is the sixth time shooters have ambushed an institution and kidnapped staff and students. Residents who were alarmed by the incident remained in fear. It is alleged that criminal groups, known as bandits, are responsible for staging the attacks, loot from the villages, and demand ransom.
According to Kaduna authorities, the vandalized institution was located in Rema town, Birnin Gwari district. Residents from the region continue living in fear and worry as the rebel attacks continue to escalate. The new attack came a day after the Nigerian authorities thwarted the attempt to kidnap over a hundred students in the same state of Kaduna.
The armed men had attacked a school located in Mando and were about to kidnap them when the state’s military intervened. The forces managed to rescue nearly 180 college students while 39 are still missing. The local authorities in the region urged the people to remain calm as a rescue operation was underway.
Unfortunately, the recent attack came almost immediately after President Buhari warned the rebel groups to refrain from the attacks. Indeed, the rebels seem unthreatened, and that’s quite a concern, considering they are disrupting education in Nigeria and corrupting peace. In light of the attacks, several states in the north and central parts of the country have closed down their schools.
And there is fear that the situation could likely contribute to increased school dropouts, particularly for the girls. Education is one of the development strategies in the poorest parts of Nigeria, and once the children are robbed of it, they are left vulnerable. The reason behind the growing number of rebel groups is the forceful recruitment of weak young men.
Government of Nigeria Fights Rebel Attacks
The growing insurgencies in Nigeria have become a global concern. Peace agencies have called on the Nigerian government to act swiftly in ending the rebel attacks. In response to the growing problem, President Buhari announced that his government had already deployed the necessary forces to resolve the situation.
He assured the people that it wouldn’t be long before the rebel operations come to an end. Likewise, the Kaduna state authorities asked the residents to remain at peace and do their best to rescue the missing students. They also made it clear that they would no longer give in to the kidnapper’s demands as they were exploiting their generosity.
Meanwhile, the government has deployed forces in the north and central states as its evident they have become rebel hotspots. However, some people have fled to the city amid the unending attacks. Significantly, the communities in the regions work in unity with the state authorities to end the attacks.
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