Afaka kidnapping
Location of Kaduna State in Nigeria
LocationFederal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Coordinates10°34′54″N 7°22′11″E / 10.5816°N 7.3697°E / 10.5816; 7.3697
Date11 March 2021
TargetSchool
Attack type
Kidnapping

The Afaka kidnapping took place on 11 March 2021, when armed Gunmen attacked Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi LGA, in Kaduna State and kidnapped 39 students just weeks after a similar attack in Jangebe, Zamfara State. The abducted comprised 23 females along with 16 males and was carried out late at night.[1][2] It is the third incident of mass kidnapping from a school in northern Nigeria in the year 2021.[3]

Kidnapping

The attack occurred at 9:30 PM local time on 11 March 2021 at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in Mando, Kaduna State.[4] The college is located on the outskirts of Kaduna city near the Nigerian defence academy military barracks.[5][3][4] The "armed bandits" entered the school by making a hole in the compound's perimeter wall.[5] Residents in the area reported hearing gunshots, however assumed that they were from training in the military academy.[6]

According to most sources, a distress call was sent by staff and students inside the campus[5] and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces' first division, based in the nearby military academy, engaged the kidnappers in a firefight.[5][6][7] They were able to rescue 180 staff and students that had initially been taken hostage by early morning on the next day.[3][4] Some students were able to evade capture by hiding under their beds, as there was a power blackout.[3] Students attending the college were over 17 years of age and of mixed gender.[4] Some of the rescued hostages were injured and were taken for medical treatment at a nearby military facility.[4] Approximately 20 trucks belonging to the Nigerian army were seen parked outside the school.[5] Approximately 30 students have not been accounted for.[3][7]

A rescue operation has been launched in an attempt to recover the students who were successfully kidnapped. It has been reported that the captives are possibly in the nearby Rugu forest, which covers over three Nigerian states.[6]

Release

On 5 April 2021, the government of Kaduna State announced that 5 of the 39 people abducted from the Afaka school have been released and recovered by the Kaduna state government.[8] On 8 April 2021, the government of Kaduna State announced that another 5 more students abducted from the Afaka school have been released, making it a total of 10 students freed, leaving 29 still in captivity.[9][10]

On 5 May 2021, the Kaduna State government similarly announced that the remaining 29 students have been released by their abductors after spending 55 days in captivity. They were reconnected with their families after undergoing medical check up.

There have been an increase of attacks on schools and abduction of students in Nigeria in recent times most of them involving shootings and demand for ransom

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gunmen attack school and kidnap at least 30 students in Nigeria". CBS. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Olukoya, Sam (12 March 2021). "Gunmen abduct 39 students from school in northwest Nigeria". AP News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Abrak, Isaac; Busari, Stephanie; Princewill, Nimi (12 March 2021). "At least 30 students missing as armed men abduct students in new Nigeria kidnappings". CNN. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nigeria: Gunmen abduct dozens of students". Deutsche Welle. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Muhammad, Garba (12 March 2021). Fletcher, Philippa (ed.). "Dozens of students abducted from forestry college in northwest Nigeria". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Parkinson, Joe (12 March 2021). "Nigeria Gunmen Abduct Students in Latest Mass Kidnapping". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Gunmen attack school and kidnap at least 30 students in Nigeria". CBS News. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "5 kidnap forestry college students regain freedom". vanguardngr.com. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Shibayan, Dyepkazah (8 April 2021). "Afaka abduction: Kaduna confirms release of five more students". The Cable. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Shiklam, John (17 April 2021). "After 37 Days in Captivity, 29 Afaka Students Get Death Threats from Bandits". THIS DAY LIVE. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
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