07 Mar 2024 | 06:04 PM UTC
Nigeria: Unknown assailants kidnap dozens of students and school staff in Kuriga, Kaduna State, March 7
Unidentified gunmen kidnap dozens of pupils and teaching staff in Kuriga, Kaduna State, Nigeria, early March 7.
A group of unidentified gunmen entered the Kuriga community in Kaduna State's Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) and abducted dozens of students and staff from the LEA Primary School during the morning of March 7. There are conflicting reports on the number of persons who were taken, with various sources claiming between 100-200 individuals had been kidnapped. No group has as yet claimed responsibility for the incident and no ransom demands have been reported.
Authorities will almost certainly maintain a tight security posture in parts of the Chikun LGA and may launch operations to apprehend the kidnappers and rescue the victims. Localized transport and disruptions are likely during any such operations.
Kuriga is located approximately 71 km (44 mi) east-northeast of Kaduna.
Exercise a high degree of caution if operating in Kaduna State, and particularly near the Chikun LGA as authorities respond to the kidnapping incident. Heed the instructions of local security personnel; remain courteous and cooperative if stopped and questioned by law enforcement officers. Maintain regular contact with your home country's diplomatic mission; travel only in convoys during daylight hours.
Most kidnappings in Nigeria are financially motivated and conducted by criminal groups of varying levels of sophistication. While locals are more likely to be affected, the threat to foreign nationals remains; bandits regularly resort to lethal methods. Officials in the northwest have implemented various business and movement restrictions, including in Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara states, in an attempt to curtail banditry and other criminal activity.
