In a significant breakthrough, Nigerian authorities announced on Sunday that at least 137 out of nearly 300 schoolchildren who were kidnapped over two weeks ago in the northwestern state of Kaduna have been freed. The Nigerian military confirmed the release, following an earlier statement from the government suggesting that all the students had been rescued.

The attack took place on March 7 when motorcycle-riding gunmen stormed the Kuriga school and forcefully took the children into the nearby forests, before security forces could intervene. Distraught families watched helplessly as their loved ones were abducted. According to school authorities, a total of 287 students were kidnapped, with more than 100 of them aged 12 or younger.

This incident adds to the alarming rate of kidnappings in Nigeria, with over 1,400 students abducted from schools since 2014. The most notorious case was the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok village in Borno state by Boko Haram militants. Recent years have seen an increase in abductions in the northwestern and central regions of Nigeria, as numerous armed groups target villagers and travelers for ransom.

The rescued children, who were captured over 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from their school in Zamfara state, were found safe. Nigerian military spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Buba stated that efforts will continue until all the remaining hostages are found and the terrorists responsible for the abductions are arrested, tried, and brought to justice according to Nigerian law.

In another positive development, it was revealed on Saturday that 17 additional schoolchildren were rescued in Sokoto state, also in the northern region, two weeks after being taken hostage. However, no details about the operations were provided by Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani, who initially announced the successful rescue.

President Bola Tinubu is facing mounting pressure to address the escalating crisis of mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria. He has reassured the public that his administration is implementing comprehensive strategies to ensure the safety of schools and prevent such abductions from occurring in the future. Tinubu had previously vowed to rescue the children without paying any ransom, although it is common practice for families to arrange ransom payments in kidnapping cases, a fact rarely acknowledged by Nigerian officials.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in Kaduna, but local residents have attributed it to bandit groups known for their involvement in mass killings and ransom kidnappings. Sources with knowledge of the security crisis in Nigeria's northwest have suggested that the identity of the abductors is known and that they are hiding in the region's vast and ungoverned forests.

Arrests in cases of mass kidnappings are infrequent in Nigeria, as victims are typically released only after ransoms are paid or through negotiations between families, government representatives, and security officials. The successful rescue of the abducted schoolchildren represents a beacon of hope for the nation and underscores the urgent need for robust action against kidnappers.