Kagara kidnapping

On 17 February 2021, a school pupil was killed and 27 others were abducted by armed men at around 3 am from their school in Kagara, Niger State, Nigeria.[1] Three members of the school's staff and 12 of their relatives were also abducted.[1] No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.[2][3]

Kagara kidnapping
Location of Niger State in Nigeria
LocationGovernment Science College, Kagara, Niger State, Nigeria
Date17 February 2021
TargetSchool
Attack type
Kidnapping
Deaths1

Raid

The gunmen raided the Government Science college in Kagara district of Niger state at around 2 am.[4]

Government response

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria ordered the police and the military to conduct a rescue operation.[5]

While an investigation is ongoing, an anonymous security official told the Agence France-Presse that the attackers are believed to belong to a criminal gang.[5]

On 19 February, the governor of the Niger State, Abubakar Sani-Bello, confirmed that the state government was in the final stages of negotiations with the bandits regarding the release of the aductees.[6]

On 21 February, a military plane on the way to Minna to try to rescue the 42 hostages crashed, killing all the 7 people on board. The chief of air staff ordered an immediate investigation, to define if the crash was accidental or not.[7]

On 24 February, the media reported that the kidnappers were negotiating with the parents of the abducted schoolboys for the payment of ransom for their release. A representative of the parents offered to pay the ransom of ₦2.7 million. The leader of the kidnappers, identified in the media as Dogo Gide, demanded the phone contacts of the parents so that he can negotiate with each of them directly.[8] The state government of Niger insisted that it was still involved in negotiations with the kidnappers for an unconditional release of the abductees.

Release

On 27 February 2021, the government of Niger State announced that all the 42 people abducted from the Kagara school have been released by the bandits and received by the Niger state government.[9]

See also

References
  1. Mbah, Fidelis (17 February 2021). "Dozens of Nigerian students abducted by armed 'bandits'". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. "Nigeria gunmen raid Kagara school and abduct boys". BBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. "Gunmen kidnap "hundreds" of schoolboys in central Nigeria, sources say". CBS News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. Parkinson, Joe; Akingbule, Gbenga (17 February 2021). "Dozens Missing in Nigeria's Latest School Kidnapping". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. "Nigeria: Gunmen kidnap students in school attack". Deutsche Welle. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. "Kagara Abduction: Negotiation for freedom at final stage — Gov Bello". Premium Times. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  7. "Seven die in Nigerian Air Force Abuja plane crash". BBC. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  8. Abubakar Ahmadu Maishanu (2020-02-24). "Kagara Abduction: Kidnappers demand ransom from victims' parents". Premium Times. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  9. "Nigeria: Gunmen release abducted Kagara schoolchildren — governor". dw.com. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-02-27.

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