Africa-Press – Nigeria. Nigeria has announced the liberation of dozens of students and teachers who were kidnapped during an attack on three schools in Oyo State in May. The government confirmed the killing of over 300 armed individuals in a separate security operation in Zamfara State.
Armed individuals, accused by the Nigerian military of belonging to Boko Haram, kidnapped 46 students and staff from three schools in Oyo State, which is one of the most populous states in Nigeria, with its capital Ibadan being a major educational center.
The Nigerian president expressed happiness in a statement regarding the success of security forces in rescuing the kidnapped students and teachers in the Orire area of Oyo State, during a joint operation carried out by units from the military, police, and intelligence agencies.
He added that the operation also neutralized several kidnappers and resulted in the arrest of eight others.
The presidential spokesperson stated on a social media platform that the kidnappers were demanding the release of one of their members who is on trial in Nigeria.
Additionally, an official in Zamfara State announced on Friday that the Nigerian military killed over 300 members of kidnapping and cattle-rustling gangs during a two-day military operation in the Gumi area.
The state’s information commissioner stated that the operation “resulted in the elimination of over 300 terrorists,” describing it as a “major breakthrough” in efforts to combat violent crime.
Armed groups and organized crime gangs continue to carry out deadly attacks in northern and central Nigeria, including extorting farmers and conducting kidnappings for ransom.
Security analysts have noted an increase in cooperation between financially motivated criminal gangs and armed political groups engaged in a prolonged conflict in northeastern Nigeria for the past 17 years.
The armed insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, along with kidnappings for ransom, has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions over the years, according to the United Nations.
The Nigerian president recently announced that over 13,000 “terrorists” have been killed in the past year, asserting that the number of casualties from the insurgency has decreased by 81% since he took office in 2023.
Nigeria, the largest African country by population, has faced an insurgency from extremist groups for years in the north, with the situation becoming more complicated due to the infiltration of extremist groups from the Sahel region, as well as attacks by criminal gangs not tied to any specific ideology, locally known as “bandits.”
President Tinubu, who is preparing for presidential elections in January, declared a nationwide state of emergency in November as his government sought to address a wave of mass kidnappings and armed violence.
