Nigeria Secures Release of 100 Kidnapped Schoolchildren, Others Remain Missing

Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 100 schoolchildren kidnapped in a November attack. Gunmen abducted 315 students and staff from a Catholic school in the country's northwest. Officials have not provided details on the fate of the remaining 215 captives. They also did not explain the terms of the children's release. Mass kidnappings for ransom are common in northern Nigeria. Criminal gangs, often called "bandits" locally, frequently target schools and villages. The November incident was one of the largest such abductions in 2023. The government faces ongoing pressure to rescue all victims and improve security nationwide.