Nigeria has faced a disturbing string of mass abductions over the past decade, targeting students and teachers, mostly for ransom. Criminal gangs and Islamist militants often attack remote boarding schools with minimal security, making them vulnerable to raids. While most victims are eventually released after negotiations, some remain missing years later.

Major incidents include:

• Chibok girls (2014): Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State, sparking the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Some girls escaped or were rescued, but dozens remain missing, and some returned with children born in captivity.
• Kankara boys (2020): In Katsina State, a gang abducted 344 boys from a boarding school. They were released days later after negotiations. The gang leader later died during clashes with authorities.
• Jangebe raid (2021): Gunmen kidnapped 279 girls from a science school in Zamfara State, forcing some to trek miles to camps before being released.
• Bethel Baptist school (2021): Around 120 pupils were abducted in Kaduna State, with some escaping and others released over months.
• Kaduna train attack (2022): Gunmen used explosives to ambush a train from Abuja, kidnapping dozens and killing eight, shocking commuters nationwide.
• Kuriga high school (2024): More than 100 students were kidnapped by gunmen in military uniforms in Kaduna, with all later rescued by the military.

These incidents underscore the persistent threat to schools in Nigeria, highlighting security gaps and the ongoing challenge of protecting children in vulnerable regions.