Families whose children were abducted last week in Nigeria’s northern Niger state returned on Friday to provide more details to authorities.
Last Friday, gunmen seized 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School in Papiri.
So far, fifty students have been able to escape. Security forces have sent tactical teams, working alongside local hunters, to help rescue those still in captivity.
Among the missing is the 7-year-old son of Joseph Dimas. He said he was instructed by his contact at the school to report and provide more details about his son and family.“ ‘[The authorities] need our attestation to come and ask us, to investigate us. How many children do we have? And that is the reason that we came here, to come and say, to tell our, the names of our children, and also the location where we are.’”
Nigeria continues to struggle with dozens of armed groups operating in remote areas where government forces have limited presence. The crisis has become more complicated as militants from other parts of the Sahel have joined Boko Haram factions expanding further into northern Nigeria.
Just days before the Papiri attack, 25 girls were kidnapped in neighboring Kebbi state. Analysts say gangs target schools to push the government into ransom talks. No group has claimed responsibility for either kidnapping.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu said he has declared a nationwide security emergency and ordered more recruitment into the police and army.
For Dimas and other parents, the painful waiting hasn’t ended.“My prayer is to see my child come back safe and sound without any problems,” Dimas said.
