Nigerian forces face violence from crime gangs and armed movements (French)

On Saturday, gunmen kidnapped at least 15 students from an Islamic school in Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria, two days after 250 children were kidnapped from their school in Kaduna State.

"The gunmen were walking in front of the institution with a woman they kidnapped in another part of the city. The students woke up to her screams," said school principal Liman Abu Bakar.

He added that the gunmen "kidnapped 15 students between the ages of 8 and 14 and took them away with the woman."

A member of Sokoto State Parliament, Kabir Dauda, ​​also confirmed the kidnapping.

He said, "I received a call early this morning from my constituency stating that bandits had kidnapped 15 students from a school."

Earlier, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mobilized security forces to find the 250 students who were kidnapped by gunmen in an attack on a school in the northwest of the country.

The kidnapping that took place - Thursday - in Kaduna state is the second within a week in the largest African country in terms of population, in which heavily armed criminal gangs constantly target victims in villages, schools, churches, or on highways, to obtain ransom.

 Kidnapped persons are usually released after receiving a ransom from their relatives, while those who do not pay are killed by their kidnappers and their bodies are left in the forests.

A teacher and several residents said that at least 250 students and perhaps 280 were kidnapped.

Local authorities in Kaduna confirmed that the kidnapping had occurred at the Korega school, but did not specify the number of students kidnapped, which is currently estimated.

Residents said that at least one person was killed in the attack.

Korega School in Korega, from which gunmen kidnapped more than 250 students (French)

Presidential order

This operation came days after the kidnapping of more than 100 women and children last week in a camp for displaced people in Borno State (northwest) by gunmen believed to be "jihadists."

These facts reveal the enormous security challenge facing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been in power since last year.

In a statement, President Tinubu ordered security forces to hunt down the kidnappers.

He said in the statement, "I received information from security leaders regarding the two incidents, and I hope that the victims will be rescued," promising that "justice will be done decisively."

“The Kaduna State government and security agencies are working around the clock to ensure the safe return of school children,” the state governor, Oba Sani, confirmed on the X platform.

He added, "I received strong assurances from the president and the National Security Advisor that he will try by all means to return the children."

Source: French