Nigerian authorities have confirmed that armed bandits freed 100 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school earlier last month. More than 165 students and staff remain in captivity, according to Nigerian forces, which are facing critical shortages of troops in tackling the rampant crimes.
The 100 school children who arrived in the capital, Abuja, will be handed over to local officials in Niger State on Monday, said UN officials who took temporary custody of the abductees on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Dare also confirmed on Sunday that the school children have been returned. Official responses over what led to the release of these 100 children remain unclear; it’s also not known whether a military operation or negotiations had forced the bandits to release these school children.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s prosperous nations, is facing a rampant surge in crimes related to kidnappings of young women by both militant groups like Boko Haram and bandits due to an acute shortage of armed forces and policemen. Approximately 400 people, mostly children, have been abducted in Nigeria by armed groups and bandits since last month.
Also Read: 303 students kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, who returned from a three-state visit to China, said on Sunday that his Nigerian counterpart, President Bola Tinubu, had reached out to him seeking help in quelling the violent attacks plaguing the oil-rich West African nation.
In a post on X, Macron wrote, "I conveyed France's solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the north.” "At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to step up their engagement."
"No one", added Macron, "can remain a spectator."
Also Read: Nigeria militants release 12 abducted women and girls
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