Gunmen Kidnap Over 50 Children, Including Toddlers, in Northeastern Nigeria

Gunmen have kidnapped more than 50 children from three schools in the same town in northeastern Nigeria, teachers and residents reported Friday. Most of the missing are toddlers aged between two and five years old.

Eyewitnesses in Mussa, Borno state, said the attackers used children as human shields while fleeing on motorbikes to prevent security forces from firing. No group has claimed responsibility, and government officials have not commented.

The raids targeted Government Day Secondary School, Mussa Central Primary School, and SUBEB Primary School. Abdu Dunama, headmaster of Mussa Central Primary, said 34 pupils-mostly nursery students aged five and under-were taken from their classrooms.

Residents said the militants arrived on motorcycles shortly after troops left town. Some older students escaped into nearby bushes. Traumatized parents described watching helplessly from a hill as the children were loaded onto bikes. Troops are now tracking the abductors.