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Zamfara kidnapping

Coordinates: 12°13′50″N 06°04′09″E / 12.23056°N 6.06917°E / 12.23056; 6.06917
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Zamfara kidnapping
Location of Zamfara State in Nigeria
LocationGovernment Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, Nigeria
Coordinates12°13′50″N 06°04′09″E / 12.23056°N 6.06917°E / 12.23056; 6.06917
DateFebruary 26, 2021
TargetSchool
Attack type
Kidnapping

The Zamfara kidnapping occurred on February 26, 2021, when 317 girls aged 12-17 years old were kidnapped by armed bandits who raided the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe (also rendered Dengebe, at 12°13′26″N 06°04′15″E / 12.22389°N 6.07083°E / 12.22389; 6.07083), Zamfara, Nigeria.[1][2] It is the second school kidnapping in Nigeria during 2021, coming less than two weeks after the Kagara kidnapping, in which over 40 people were abducted in a raid on a state school in the state of Niger.[3] The location of the students remains largely unknown.

Background

See also: Islamic extremism in Northern Nigeria

Holding school children hostage for ransom has become fairly common in Nigeria. Armed criminal groups, described by the government as "bandits", frequently target locals and low-income population as opposed to foreign citizens or wealthy businessmen. Since most people will willingly pay to save their children, it provides a steady source of income to these groups.[4] Involving children also gains such groups publicity through notoriety as well as restrain in harsh actions from the government. High profile cases include the Chibok kidnapping by the group Boko Haram in 2014. Between 2011 and 2020, Nigerians have spent around US$18 million in ransom, with the majority of it being spent in the later half of the decade.[5] Kidnappings have also been carried out by another jihadist group named Islamic State West Africa Province.[2]

Nine days before this incident at least 42 people, including 27 students, three teachers and nine family members, were kidnapped and one student killed in a raid on a state school in an abduction in Kagara, in Niger state, in Nigeria's Middle Belt region. They remain under captivity.[5]

Kidnapping

The raid commenced when more than 100 armed gunmen arrived at the Government Girls Science Secondary School at 01:00 local time.[6] According to local residents, the gunmen remained for hours in the school before making off with the schoolchildren. The gunmen also reportedly attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint in order to prevent military intervention during the raid.[7][3] It has been reported that some of the kidnappers wore the uniforms of security forces.[8][6] The method of transportation is disputed, with some witnesses saying that the bandits arrived in pick-up vehicles and motorcycles, while others claim that they arrived on foot.[9][7] The gunmen fired shots in the air, however it remains unclear whether this was to scare the local population or in engagement.[5] It was reported that one police officer was killed.[10] It is believed that some of the schoolchildren may have been taken by the kidnappers to a nearby forest.[10] Currently, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.[6][11] Amnesty International said the incident amounted to a "war crime."[1].

Aftermath

The state police force announced that they would conduct a search and rescue operation.[2] The Nigeria Union of Teachers and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) stated that they were prepared to close down schools.[8] Residents of Jangebe created roadblocks in the aftermath of the kidnapping and attacked incoming vehicles using sticks and stones.[12]

Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria, called the abduction "inhumane and totally unacceptable" and that his administration will "not succumb to blackmail by bandits who target innocent school students in the expectations of huge ransom payments."[10] Bello Matawalle, the Zamfara state governor, said "I wish to assure everyone that we are wholly committed to ensuring a speedy rescue of our dear schoolgirls."[5] The event was condemned by UNICEF and Save the Children.[1][3][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Busari, Stephanie; Abrak, Isaac; Princewill, Nimi. "Hundreds of schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria, government official says". CNN. CNN. Retrieved February 26, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Gunmen kidnap more than 300 schoolgirls in northwest Nigeria". NBC News. Reuters. February 26, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Hundreds of Nigerian Students Kidnapped, Police Say". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 26, 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Hundreds of schoolgirls missing in northwest Nigeria after kidnapping". France 24. February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d Paquette, Danielle; Garba, Ibrahim. "Nigeria confronts second mass kidnapping of schoolchildren in nine days after 317 girls vanish". Washington Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b c "Nigeria's Zamfara school abduction: More than 300 Nigerian girls missing". BBC News. February 26, 2021. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Olukoya, Sam (February 26, 2021). "Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls taken in mass abduction". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Roussi, Antoaneta (February 26, 2021). "Hundreds of schoolgirls missing after armed bandits storm Nigerian school in Zamfara". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved February 26, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b "Gunmen kidnap over 300 girls in Nigeria school raid: Police". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Abrak, Isaac; Princewill, Nimi; Busari, Stephanie. "Hundreds of schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria, government official says". CNN.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Ibrahim, Hamza (February 26, 2021). "Gunmen kidnap 300 schoolgirls in increasingly lawless northwest Nigeria". Reuters. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Nigerian Authorities Searching For 317 Schoolgirls Kidnapped By 'Armed Bandits'". WKSU. NPR. February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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