The safety of schoolchildren is once again in the spotlight as bandits carry out audacious attacks across the northern region of the country.

Recent reports reveal that between Wednesday, March 6 and Monday, March 11, approximately 800 unsuspecting Nigerians, primarily schoolchildren, were kidnapped by daring terrorists in various parts of the north.

According to Amnesty International (AI), Boko Haram terrorists abducted over 400 people, including women and children, in Borno State last week. The victims, who had left Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the Gamboru Ngala council area in search of firewood, were mostly women and children displaced from their homes due to the ongoing violence in the Northeast.

Within 24 hours of the Borno attack, bandits abducted over 280 pupils and teachers from Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, causing national outrage.

The ruthless bandits stormed the Kuriga area of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before abducting at least 280 pupils and teachers.

In the following days, the assailants struck again in the Buda community of Kajuru Local Government Area in Kaduna State, kidnapping over 61 people. Tragically, four individuals were reported to have been killed during this unfortunate incident.

Additionally, armed men broke into a boarding school in Gidan Bakuso village in the Gada council area of Sokoto State on March 9, abducting around 15 children as they slept.

The same week, more than 50 people, including a family of seven, were killed in an attack on the Gbagir community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, suspected to be carried out by armed Fulani militia.

These incidents have sparked significant tension, particularly in schools across the nation, especially in the Northern region. Parents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are worried about rumors of planned attacks in schools.

There have been reports of potential terrorist attacks in government-owned schools, particularly in Bwari, Bwari Area Council. Some schools have adjusted their academic calendars to allow students to complete their second-term examinations and proceed for Easter holidays.

Concerned parent Mrs. Maria Adakwu expressed her worries about the safety of her daughter, who attends the Federal Government College (FGC) in Kwali, Sheda village, on the outskirts of the capital.

It should be noted that the school community was previously attacked in February 2022, leading to its immediate closure by the Federal Government.

Mrs. Maria emphasized the need for proactive measures by the Nigerian government and security agencies to ensure the safety of children, stating that waiting for incidents to occur before taking action is not acceptable.

However, when contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, assured the public that schools in the FCT are safe and well fortified.

In Kaduna State, particularly in Chikun Local Government, some parents are choosing to withdraw their children from public schools due to fear of attacks. The recent abductions have heightened fear across various parts of the state.

The Federal Government has firmly stated that it will not pay any ransom for the release of the over 280 pupils and teachers kidnapped from the Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State. The government is considering offers of help from the United States and other countries to secure the students’ safe release.