Hundreds of Nigerian Schoolchildren Remain Captive After Two Weeks

Two weeks after a mass kidnapping, more than 250 Nigerian schoolchildren are still being held by armed captors. Their ongoing detention highlights a severe national crisis. Mass abductions from schools have become common in the West African nation. Nigeria faces critical threats from several armed groups. Among them are gangs that specialize in kidnappings for ransom. These criminals frequently target educational institutions. They seek to extract large payments from families and the government. The practice has disrupted schooling and spread fear across northern Nigeria. The fate of the latest group of abducted children remains uncertain. Their continued captivity places intense pressure on Nigerian authorities to secure their release.