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Over 100 schoolchildren rescued in northern Nigeria after mass kidnapping

In a daring rescue operation, over 100 schoolchildren were freed in northern Nigeria after being kidnapped from their school in Kaduna two weeks ago. The abduction, carried out by criminal gangs seeking large ransoms, was the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.

The children, consisting of 76 girls and 61 boys, were rescued in neighboring Zamfara State following a coordinated effort by the military, local authorities, and government agencies. Army spokesperson Major General Edward Buba confirmed that all the students in captivity were safely rescued.

Kaduna Governor Uba Sani expressed relief that the children were unharmed, stating, “This is indeed a day of joy.” The rescued children will undergo medical tests before being reunited with their families in their home state.

The rescue operation came just days before a ransom deadline of $690,000 (€635,000) was set to expire. While ransom payments are common in Nigeria, officials rarely admit to making payments. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously vowed to rescue the children without paying any ransom.

The tactic of abductions in Nigeria was first employed by the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2014 when they kidnapped 276 students from a girls’ school in Chibok. Since then, criminal gangs, known as bandits, have adopted the practice without any ideological affiliation.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the Kaduna kidnapping, sources with knowledge of the security crisis in northern Nigeria revealed that the identities of the kidnappers are known and they are currently hiding in the forest.

It is important to note that initial reports of over 200 hostages being released were later clarified by the military to be over 100. The headline of this story has been updated to reflect this correction.

This successful rescue operation serves as a beacon of hope in the fight against abduction and highlights the bravery and dedication of those involved in ensuring the safety of the children.