Nigeria's Descent into Chaos: A Year of Mass School Kidnappings

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Nigeria has been plagued by a series of mass school kidnappings in recent years, leaving a trail of devastation and fear in its wake. The latest incident occurred in November 2025, when over 300 students and 12 staff members were taken from a school in Niger state. At least 50 students managed to escape. This is not an isolated incident, however. In November 2025, gunmen attacked a government girls' boarding school in Kebbi state, killing the vice principal and taking 25 students, with one still missing. A similar incident occurred in March 2024, when gunmen seized over 200 students and staff in Kaduna state. The students were eventually rescued after a two-week ordeal, despite the government's denial of paying a ransom. Previous incidents include the kidnapping of 150 students from a Baptist school in Kaduna state in July 2021, which was resolved after ransom payments were made. In May 2021, 136 students were abducted from an Islamic school in Niger state, with six fatalities and 15 escapes. The remaining students were released after three months. In February 2021, at least 279 girls were kidnapped from a government school in Zamfara state and forced into a forest, where they were subjected to physical abuse and threats. They were eventually released after a few days. The most notable incident occurred in December 2020, when armed men abducted 344 boys from a boarding school in northern Katsina state. Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram claimed responsibility before the students were freed by Nigerian security forces a week later. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of schools in Nigeria, as well as the government's ability to protect its citizens. The country's descent into chaos has left many wondering what the future holds for its children and education system.