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Parents of abducted Nigerian schoolchildren live in fear of reprisals
Parents of over 300 children kidnapped from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State on November 21 are too afraid to speak out, fearing retaliation from armed gangs. One father, identified only as Aliyu for his safety, told the BBC that any public comment could provoke the kidnappers to "come to your house and take you into the bush."
The attack in Papiri village, central Nigeria, targeted students as young as five. While state officials claim reports of 250 still missing are exaggerated, families remain desperate. Aliyu described his anguish: "I feel so bitter, and my wife hasn't eaten for days." Previous abductions have ended with captives dying from illness or unpaid ransoms.
Wave of abductions sweeps northern and central Nigeria
The Papiri raid is part of a broader surge in mass kidnappings, often linked to criminal gangs-locally called "bandits"-who demand ransoms. Two days later, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants abducted 12 teenage girls in Borno State, later rescued in a military operation. Earlier, 25 girls were seized from a school in Kebbi State's Maga district; most were freed after security forces raided a "farm settlement."
No group has claimed responsibility for the school attacks, though authorities suspect jihadists rather than bandits. Locals, however, believe insider collusion is likely. Yusuf, a guardian of some Maga victims, told the BBC: "No stranger could pull this off without local help."
Bandits' strongholds and the ransom economy
Bandits, predominantly ethnic Fulani herders, operate from remote cattle camps in forested areas. Ransom payments-though illegal-are often crowdfunded by families or negotiated by authorities. Failure to pay has led to hostage killings. In Kebbi and Niger states, where poverty is rampant, communities suspect jihadist involvement despite official denials.
Security analyst David Nwaugwe of SBM Intelligence noted that some rural areas, exhausted by violence, have struck "peace deals" with bandits. In Katsina State, agreements granting bandits access to mines (particularly gold) and safe passage for cattle have reduced attacks. "There's been a decline in violence where deals exist," he said, though critics argue this shifts insecurity elsewhere.
Why bandits negotiate
In Jibia, Katsina, a 2024 peace accord ended a decade of bloodshed. Community leader Ibrahim Sabiu recounted the toll: "Schools closed, hundreds died or were kidnapped." Bandits, in turn, sought clean water and market access. Nasiru Bosho, a bandit leader, admitted exhaustion: "We're tired of violence. We agreed to live and let live."
"Life is full of ups and downs; we're happy to enter a new phase."
Audu Abdullahi Ofisa, bandit leader involved in Jibia talks
Shifting threats and failed security
Analysts warn that peace deals in the north may push gangs toward wealthier southern regions, where ransoms are more lucrative. Christian Ani of the Institute for Security Studies called Nigeria's crisis "complicated," with overlapping jihadist and bandit operations. "They're fluid," he said, dismissing links between recent abductions and former U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of military intervention.
David Nwaugwe advocated a dual approach: "Use military force against holdouts, but offer amnesty to others." Yet for Papiri's parents, peace remains distant. "We need action," Aliyu pleaded, as families await their children's return.
