Nigeria has struggled with a series of mass kidnappings, mostly carried out by criminal gangs looking for ransom payments. Here are some of the country’s worst mass kidnapping incidents:
Boko Haram jihadists attacked a girls’ school in Chibok, Borno State, kidnapping nearly 300 schoolgirls. The attack triggered the #BringBackOurGirls movement. Some girls escaped, others were released or rescued, but dozens remain missing.
Gunmen raided a girls’ school in Jangebe, Zamfara State, kidnapping 279 female students. They were released after negotiations.
A criminal gang kidnapped around 120 pupils from a school in Kaduna State. Some escaped, others were released in batches over months.
Gunmen attacked a train, kidnapping dozens and killing eight. The last hostages were released months later.
Gunmen kidnapped over 100 schoolchildren from a school in Kaduna State. All 137 pupils were later rescued
These incidents highlight Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with mass abductions, often targeting schools and vulnerable communities.
