Bandits release 130 children abducted from school but almost 170 remain missing two weeks after capture

Gunmen had marched students into forests before security forces could arrive

A boy protests against the kidnapping of hundreds of school pupils by gunmen. Photo: Reuters

Chinedu Asadu

At least 137 of nearly 300 Nigerian children abducted more than two weeks ago from their school in the northwestern state of Kaduna were released yesterday.

Motorcycle-riding gunmen invaded the Kuriga school on March 7 and marched the children into the forests before security forces could arrive, as terrified families watched helplessly. School authorities said a total of 287 students had been kidnapped during the attack, at least 100 of them are aged 12 or younger.