Gunmen Abduct 10 Women and Children in Latest Nigeria Kidnapping

Gunmen have abducted ten women and children in a shocking incident in Nigeria’s Kwara State, according to local police. The attack occurred on the night of March 14, 2024, in the village of Isapa, which is close to another village where at least 35 people were kidnapped just a week earlier. This incident adds to a troubling trend of mass abductions in the nation, particularly targeting vulnerable communities.

The recent surge in kidnappings has left parents in distress, particularly those affected by a mass abduction from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State the previous week. Parents are pleading for the release of their children, many of whom are still missing. In total, more than 265 students and teachers remain unaccounted for following the attack on the school, which is situated in north-central Nigeria.

Ojo Adekimi, the Kwara State police commissioner, reported that the assailants, believed to be herders, fired shots during the raid and targeted local farming families. A woman from the village managed to escape and return home, providing crucial information about the attack. Adekimi confirmed that a manhunt is underway, with police and local hunters actively searching for the kidnappers.

The attack on Isapa follows a tragic incident on March 7, 2024, when gunmen stormed a church in Eruku, approximately 20 kilometers from Isapa, killing two individuals and abducting at least 35 worshippers. Fortunately, those worshippers have since returned to their families.

In the aftermath of the St Mary’s attack, parents like Michael Ibrahim have expressed their desperation. Ibrahim’s four-year-old son, who suffers from asthma, is among those still held captive. “We don’t know the condition in which the boy is,” Ibrahim lamented. Another parent, Sunday Isaiku, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I need my child back,” a plea that underscores the emotional toll these abductions take on families.

The current wave of kidnappings has drawn international attention, with the United Nations condemning the violence. “We are shocked at the recent surge in mass abductions in north-central Nigeria,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesman for the UN rights office in Geneva. He urged the Nigerian government to take immediate action to prevent further attacks.

The situation in Nigeria has become increasingly dire, with the country grappling with a long-term security crisis exacerbated by both jihadist violence and attacks by armed gangs. Since the infamous mass kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, which saw 276 girls abducted by the Islamist group Boko Haram, such incidents have continued to plague the country. Despite some improvements, global conflict monitoring group ACLED reported 42 incidents of violence targeting students in Nigeria this year, a slight decline from 71 incidents in 2023.

The World Food Programme has highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, projecting that nearly 35 million people in northern Nigeria could face severe food insecurity by 2026, with approximately 15,000 expected to experience famine-like conditions, particularly in Borno State.

These ongoing kidnappings and the broader security crisis pose significant challenges for Nigeria, a nation of over 230 million people marked by complex intercommunal conflicts. The urgent need for effective governmental intervention is evident, as families continue to suffer the consequences of violence and insecurity in their communities.