AP Photo/Sunday Alamba File.
In Kaduna, Nigeria, over 130 children abducted over two weeks ago from a school were rescued on Sunday. They are receiving psychological support before reuniting with their families, according to military and government officials.
The school initially reported 287 students kidnapped, but the governor later clarified that only 137 were taken. The children were kidnapped on March 7 when gunmen on motorcycles raided the remote Kuriga school. The incident is part of Nigeria's ongoing kidnapping crisis, with at least 1,400 students abducted since 2014. The children were rescued in Zamfara state, over 200 kilometers away from their school. Pictures released by the military show the children, still in their uniforms, looking exhausted as they were transported following their release. They are receiving medical attention and psychological support. In a separate incident, 17 schoolchildren were rescued in northern Sokoto state. President Bola Tinubu has promised to ensure the safety of schools and rescue abducted children without paying ransom.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Kaduna kidnapping, but locals blame bandit groups known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom. Experts suggest the abductors are hiding in the region's vast forests, where arrests are rare, and victims are usually released after ransom payments or deals with authorities.
