REVEALED: The Unspoken Politics Behind the Wave of Schoolchildren Abductions
By Lawal Dahiru Mamman,
A diligent investigation by PRNigeria has uncovered troubling patterns behind Nigeria’s recent surge in school kidnappings, revealing a complex mix of insecurity, political calculation, and fragile state mechanisms.
In the last fortnight alone, armed men abducted 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, killing two staff members, including the Vice Principal. Just days later, over 300 students and teachers were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, though 50 students managed to escape.
While the nation breathes a sigh of relief over the rescued students, credible security and intelligence sources confirmed to PRNigeria that these attacks are more than random criminal acts—they reflect a calculated exploitation of government weaknesses, negotiation dynamics, and, disturbingly, political interests.
The Business of Kidnapping
Meanwhile, a PRNigeria analysis shows that kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved into a lucrative economy. Armed groups manipulate fear, exploit gaps in security, and use negotiation as a revenue stream. The cycle is sustained because responses are inconsistent, sometimes delayed, and occasionally entangled with political agendas.
A decade-long review of mass school abductions exposes a troubling pattern: the Dapchi abduction of 2018, where 110 schoolgirls were taken by Boko Haram; the 2020 Kankara school incident involving over 300 students; and the infamous Chibok abduction in 2014 that sparked the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign. More recent cases, including Jangebe in 2021 and Kuriga in 2024, further illustrate a recurring crisis that has yet to be fully addressed.
Politics and Perception
Further investigations by this newspaper indicate that political narratives play a pivotal role in how kidnappings unfold and are perceived. Analysts argue that abductions in schools or religious centers are sometimes leveraged to project claims of persecution, potentially influencing international attention and intervention. At the same time, other attacks highlight gaps in government capacity, undermining public confidence and feeding narratives of insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The rapid release of abducted students under non-kinetic military strategies, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Advisers (ONSA), has further fueled speculation about government complicity or political calculation. Armed groups themselves have posted on social media claiming that federal authorities negotiated the students’ freedom, adding to public suspicion.
Expert Insights
Foremost security analyst and Nigerian lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, warns that the country faces multiple, evolving threats from splintering criminal and terrorist networks. “The scale of attacks shows Nigeria is no longer dealing with a single insurgency. These actors are rebranding and reorganizing, making them far more dangerous,” Bukarti said.
He criticized ransom payments for emboldening kidnappers, and cautioned that unilateral foreign intervention could be counterproductive. Bukarti highlighted several urgent measures: deploy rapid-response units, secure borders to curb arms and drug flows, and adopt offensive security strategies rather than reactive ones. He also noted that the Safe Schools Initiative has failed to address the broader insecurity in surrounding communities, leaving schools vulnerable.
Government Response
PRNigeria confirmed that the President Booa Tinubu-led administration has moved to address recent security gaps. These measures include:
– Establishing 24-hour security cordons around forests in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States.
– Redeploying police officers from VIP duties to frontline security.
– Directing the Nigerian Air Force to intensify aerial surveillance of remote forested regions.
Security agencies have already rescued 38 worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, and 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State. Additionally, a five-year counter-terrorism strategy (2025–2030) has been unveiled, aimed at modernizing security architecture and enhancing national resilience.
Looking Ahead
In a chat with PRNigeria, some experienced military and intelligence experts suggest that tackling Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis requires more than immediate responses. Experts call for a systemic approach that combines intelligence-led operations, border security, proactive law enforcement, and community engagement. They warn that failing to address the political, social, and economic incentives that sustain kidnappings will only perpetuate the cycle, leaving schools, families, and communities vulnerable.
For now, while the rescued students return to their families, the questions remain: Who truly benefits from these abductions? And how long can Nigeria sustain a pattern of crisis without confronting the politics that enable it?
