More than 70 children kidnapped by gunmen from a school in northwestern Nigeria

At least 73 children have been snatched by unknown gunmen in northwestern Nigeria, according to local authorities. Kidnping is a common event in the country, with over 1,000 abducted for ransom this year alone.

The incident took place at a secondary school in the remote village of Kaya, in the state of Zamfara. A hunt for the kidnappers was quickly launched but has yet to yield any results.

“The command … has deployed a search and rescue team mandated to work in synergy with the military to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students," This is stated by a spokesman for the Zamfara police, Mohammed Shehu.

The latest mass abduction comes days after about 100 kidnapped children were released from activity in the state of Niger, northwestern Nigeria. The children spent nearly three months in activity after 136 students were taken from an Islamic seminar in the town of Tegina. Six of them died while being detained, and some managed to make a hole on their own.

Although the government has not elaborated on the release, media reports suggested that an unspecified ransom be paid to the kidnappers. The Tegina group of children was one of the youngest yet to be kidnapped in the country, including children as young as four. Some of the released minors were reportedly returned in poor condition, and school teachers told media that some were “vomiting blood” and unable to walk alone.

Kidnping has become an increasingly common occurrence in the country, with more than 1,000 children abducted since December last year. The tactic is used both by anti-government rebels active in the northeastern part of the country as well as by various armed gangs active elsewhere in Nigeria. Many of the kidnappers have been released after allegedly paying a ransom.

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