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140 Students Abducted in Northwestern Nigeria

VOA News

   Armed kidnappershave taken140 students from their boarding school in
   northwestern Nigeria, local officials announcedMonday.

   Attackers opened fire on the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state
   early Monday, abducting most of the 165 pupils boarding there
   overnight.
   Student wares lie on a bed after 140 boarding students of Bethel
   Baptist School were kidnapped by gunmen in Kaduna, northwestern
   Nigeria, on July 5, 2021.

   Teachers at the school told reporters they don't know where the
   students were taken.

   Police in Kaduna state said they have rescued 26 people, including one
   teacher.

   Monday'sabductionis one of many recent kidnappings, usually for
   ransom,that have hit schoolsin northern Nigeria.

   Late last month, gunmen attacked a school in the northwest state of
   Kebbi,abducting at least 80 students and teachers.

   Amnesty International reports about 600 schools in northern Nigeria
   have closed as a result of persistent attacks since late last year.

   Earlier this year, the government promised more security deployment to
   schools. But teachers and activists in the country say their schools
   remain poorly protected.

   Nigerianauthorities have faced increased criticism over the
   kidnappings, one of thecountry'smanysecurity challenges
   includingtheBoko Haraminsurgencyin the northeast, and a growing
   separatist movement in the southeast.

   TimothyObiezu contributed to this report.

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