Since December last year, Nigeria has seen a surge in cases of abduction. And it is alleged that the jihadist group, famously known as Boko Haram, is responsible for the attacks. The constant abduction has left the regions, more so in the northwestern part of the state, insecure. Some locals have fled to the city, while the ones remaining in such habitats continue to live in fear.
The Recent Attack
On Thursday, during the late hours of the night, gunmen ambushed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in Kaduna’s northwestern state and abducted 39 students. Sources reported that the men stormed into the hostels and forced the students aged 17 and above to come with them. Before escaping, the jihadist attackers engaged in a fierce shoot-out with the government military.
Actually, because of the government’s swift response, 180 students were rescued. When the news reached the public, distraught parents, relatives and sympathizers went to the school to gather information on what transpired. The most concerned parties were the parents of the missing students. Some years ago, when a similar incident happened in a girls’ boarding school, not all the students made it back home.
Controversial Footages
Disturbing videos of student hostages pleading for help surfaced online days after the incident at Kaduna. Some gunmen were with whips beating hostages as they begged for mercy. In one of the videos, a student was appealing to the Nigerian government to rescue them without inflicting violence. Though there was no certainty on the exact the hostages were detained, it is possible they were in a forest in Kaduna.
Meanwhile, there was an uproar in social media, with many calling on the government to do something. Kaduna police commissioner Samuel Aruwan stated that an operation for the students’ rescue was underway. The army, air force, police DSS were all awaiting orders for the operation to succeed.
Buhari Cautions Insurgents
There is no doubt jihadists are currently preying on schoolgirls and boys to push forward their mandates. They are either using them as a tool for the government to give in to their demands, i.e., ransoms, the release of their fellow jihadists, etc. However, President Buhari has refused to be used as a puppet to fulfill the rebels’ desires.
Following the latest incident, he issued a stern warning to the rebels and promised to curb the attacks. He said he was not going to allow the jihadists to destroy Nigeria’s educational system. Buhari also applauded the military for their swift response in rescuing the 180 students and eight staff members.
“Our military may be efficient and well-armed, but it needs good efforts for the nation’s defense, and the local population must rise to this challenge of the moment,” he said.
Mass abduction in the northwestern part of the country continues to erode the region’s security and safety. With the recent attack being the fourth incident, the forces promise to double their efforts to end the recurring insurgencies. President Buhari urges Nigerians to remain optimistic and work with the authorities to defeat the rebels.
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