Since 2014 when terrorists attacked Chibok schoolchildren, over 1000 students have been abducted within the past three administrations. From former President Goodluck Johnatan to Muhammadu Buhari and, now, President Bola Tinubu, no fewer than 15 attacks have been carried out in 10 states, located around the northern region of Nigeria.
Kaduna state has more schoolchildren abductions than any other affected state in Nigeria. Although some of the schoolchildren have been rescued, either through the effort of security operatives or ransom paid by families. Unfortunately, many are still held in captivity.
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2024: On March 8, some gunmen kidnapped no fewer than 287 children from Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Few days later, another 15 students were kidnapped from a school in Gada, Sokoto.
Earlier in January, six pupils and three teachers of a private school in Emure, headquarters of Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State were kidnapped.
2023: In January 2023, six people were abducted from Local Government Education Authority Primary School in the Doma area of Nasarawa state. Also, 24 students were kidnapped from their hostel in Sabon Besin, Zamfara in September of the same year.
2021: On February 17, terrorists attacked the Government Science College Kagara, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapping 27 students and teachers in the school. On February 26, no fewer than 317 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe in Jangebe, Zamfara state.
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The following month, 39 students were kidnapped by gunmen in the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Igabi LGA, Kaduna state. On May 30, another attack took place at an Islamic school in Niger state as terrorists kidnapped 100 students.
On June 17, over 96 students and eight teachers were abducted by bandits at Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State and finally, in July, over 153 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi town of Chikun local government area in Kaduna were kidnapped.
2020: On December 11, 2020, over 303 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina were kidnapped by terrorists. Days later, 80 students of an Islamic school in Dandume, Katsina were kidnapped.
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2018: On February 19, 2018, about 110 students were kidnapped after Boko Haram invaded the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi. While being held hostage, some of the girls died, and others were later rescued, leaving Leah Sharibu, a Christian child who had not been rescued.
2014: In April 2014, over 276 female students were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State. Some of the school girls reportedly escaped in the process of being transported while others, on several occasions, were rescued by the military. As of the time of filing this report, over 100 of these children are still missing.