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Officials in Nigeria have secured the release of 100 seized pupils seized by gunmen from a educational institution the previous month, per reports from a source within the UN and Nigerian press this past Sunday. Yet, the situation of a further one hundred and sixty-five hostages thought to still be under the control of kidnappers was unknown.

Context

In November, three hundred and fifteen individuals were taken from a mixed residential school in north-central Niger state, as the nation faced a series of large-scale kidnappings reminiscent of the well-known 2014 Boko Haram abduction of female students in Chibok.

Approximately 50 managed to flee shortly afterward, resulting in 265 thought to be in captivity.

The Handover

The 100 children are scheduled to be handed over to local government officials on Monday, according to the source.

“They will be released to Niger state government tomorrow,” the individual told a news agency.

Regional reports also reported that the liberation of the students had been obtained, without offering details on whether it was achieved via negotiation or military force, or about the situation of the remaining students and staff.

The liberation of the students was announced to AFP by presidential spokesman an official.

Response

“For a long time we were praying and waiting for their return, should this be accurate then it is a cheering event,” said Daniel Atori, representing the local diocese of the Kontagora diocese which operates the school.

“However, we are without official confirmation and have not received proper notification by the national authorities.”

Broader Context

Although abductions for money are widespread in the nation as a way for criminals and armed groups to fund their activities, in a wave of mass abductions in last month, scores of individuals were seized, casting an uncomfortable focus on Nigeria’s already grim security situation.

The country is grappling with a long-running jihadist insurgency in the northeastern region, while criminal groups carry out kidnappings and raid villages in the north-west, and conflicts between farmers and herders concerning diminishing land and resources occur in the middle belt.

Additionally, militant factions associated with secessionist agendas also operate in the country’s volatile southeastern region.

The Chibok Shadow

A most prominent large-scale abductions that attracted international attention was in 2014, when almost 300 schoolgirls were abducted from their school in the northeastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists.

Now, the country's kidnap-for-ransom crisis has “evolved into a systematic, revenue-generating industry” that raised around $1.66 million dollars (£1.24m) between last year, according to a study by a Nigerian research firm.