Since December, criminal gangs known locally as bandits have increasingly targeted schools and colleges for kidnapping attacks, hoping to squeeze ransom payments out of the authorities.

University staffer killed, students kidnapped by Nigerian gunmen

At least 19 people have been killed in an attack on a village in the Tillaberi region of southwest Niger, local officials said.

Governor Ibrahim Tidjani Katiella told news agencies the attackers, who likely came from Mali, surrounded the village and then started killing the inhabitants.

"For the moment, the number of dead stands at 19 and two people have been wounded in an attack by armed men on motorbikes in the village of Gaigorou" in the Tillaberi region on Saturday evening, said the municipal official from Dessa.

The Tillaberi region has been frequently targeted by terrorist groups based in Mali since 2017, with a state of emergency declared in the area.

Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in the Sahel are at the epicentre of one of the world's fastest-growing displacement and protection crises.

The region hosts 851,000 refugees and nearly 2 million displaced people, according to the UN refugee agency.

In January, around 100 people were killed in attacks in two Tillaberi villages after the first round of presidential elections.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 19 people have been killed in an attack on a village in the Tillaberi region of southwest Niger, local officials said. Governor Ibrahim Tidjani Katiella told news agencies the attackers, who likely came from Mali, surrounded the village and then started killing the inhabitants.

At least 19 people have been killed in an attack on a village in the Tillaberi region of southwest Niger, local officials said. Governor Ibrahim Tidjani Katiella told news agencies the attackers, who likely came from Mali, surrounded the village and then started killing the inhabitants. "For the moment, the number of dead stands at 19 and two people have been wounded in an attack by armed men on motorbikes in the village of Gaigorou" in the Tillaberi region on Saturday evening, said the municipal official from Dessa. The Tillaberi region has been frequently targeted by terrorist groups based in Mali since 2017, with a state of emergency declared in the area. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in the Sahel are at the epicentre of one of the world's fastest-growing displacement and protection crises. The region hosts 851,000 refugees and nearly 2 million displaced people, according to the UN refugee agency. In January, around 100 people were killed in attacks in two Tillaberi villages after the first round of presidential elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Nineteen civilians killed in West Niger attack: Official

One army officer was among the 11 armed forces personnel killed in an attack in Nigeria that was termed as unprovoked by a spokesperson on Thursday. The attack took place in Nigeria's Benue state.

The army said in a statement that it would "fish out and deal decisively with these bad elements."

Army spokesman Mohammed Yerima said the troops were initially declared missing while on a routine operational task, but a search-and-rescue team later found the bodies.

"Efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators of this heinous crime with a view to bringing them to justice," Yerima said in a statement.

Yerima did not immediately reply to further queries about the attack.

Reuters said that civilians were fleeing the Konshiba local government in fear soldiers looking to root out the perpetrators. A local leader's house had been burnt to ground.

The violence in the restive Middle Belt region marked the latest bout of instability in Nigeria, Africa's most-populous nation.

On Monday, heavily armed gunman freed more than 1,800 prisoners in the southeast, while armed gangs have kidnapped hundreds of school children in the northwest in recent months and Islamist militants in the northeast have waged a decade-long insurgency.

Troops patrol in the Middle Belt due in part to clashes between farmers and nomadic cattle herders that have killed thousands and displaced half a million over the past decade, according to estimates from French medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

(With Reuters inputs)

One army officer was among the 11 armed forces personnel killed in an attack in Nigeria that was termed as unprovoked by a spokesperson on Thursday. The attack took place in Nigeria's Benue state.

One army officer was among the 11 armed forces personnel killed in an attack in Nigeria that was termed as unprovoked by a spokesperson on Thursday. The attack took place in Nigeria's Benue state. The army said in a statement that it would "fish out and deal decisively with these bad elements." Army spokesman Mohammed Yerima said the troops were initially declared missing while on a routine operational task, but a search-and-rescue team later found the bodies. "Efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators of this heinous crime with a view to bringing them to justice," Yerima said in a statement. Yerima did not immediately reply to further queries about the attack. Reuters said that civilians were fleeing the Konshiba local government in fear soldiers looking to root out the perpetrators. A local leader's house had been burnt to ground. The violence in the restive Middle Belt region marked the latest bout of instability in Nigeria, Africa's most-populous nation. On Monday, heavily armed gunman freed more than 1,800 prisoners in the southeast, while armed gangs have kidnapped hundreds of school children in the northwest in recent months and Islamist militants in the northeast have waged a decade-long insurgency. Troops patrol in the Middle Belt due in part to clashes between farmers and nomadic cattle herders that have killed thousands and displaced half a million over the past decade, according to estimates from French medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres. (With Reuters inputs)

Eleven soldiers killed in attack in Nigeria

Hundreds of prisoners have escaped from Nigerian prison after militants armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades launched a series of coordinated attacks overnight in South Eastern Nigeria on April 5.

More than 1,800 inmates escaped from Nigerian prison after the attack.

The attackers used explosives to blast the administrative block of the prison in the southeastern town of Owerri and enter the prison yard, the BBC said. Owerri is about 400km (260 miles) southeast of Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos.

The Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed to BBC that 1,844 inmates escaped after the attack early on Monday.

Nigerian police blamed the attack on the banned separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, the BBC said.

Agence France Presse has reported that the group has denied involvement.

Several police stations have been attacked in southeastern Nigeria since January, with large amounts of ammunition stolen since January, the BBC said. No groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks, it said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hundreds of prisoners have escaped from Nigerian prison after militants armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades launched a series of coordinated attacks overnight in South Eastern Nigeria on April 5.

Hundreds of prisoners have escaped from Nigerian prison after militants armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades launched a series of coordinated attacks overnight in South Eastern Nigeria on April 5. More than 1,800 inmates escaped from Nigerian prison after the attack. The attackers used explosives to blast the administrative block of the prison in the southeastern town of Owerri and enter the prison yard, the BBC said. Owerri is about 400km (260 miles) southeast of Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos. The Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed to BBC that 1,844 inmates escaped after the attack early on Monday. Nigerian police blamed the attack on the banned separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, the BBC said. Agence France Presse has reported that the group has denied involvement. Several police stations have been attacked in southeastern Nigeria since January, with large amounts of ammunition stolen since January, the BBC said. No groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks, it said. (With inputs from agencies)

Mass prison break as over 1800 escape from correctional facility in Nigeria

Modern African music is altering perceptions of the continent as part of a global cultural shift that marks a "big moment", Nigerian music artist Burna Boy told Reuters after hailing his first Grammy award. 
 
Burna Boy was awarded a Grammy for the Best Global Music Album this month for `Twice As Tall` which was released last year. 
 
He is part of a generation of Nigerian music artists, which include Wizkid and Davido, that has enjoyed global success in recent years as proponents of the Afrobeats sound. The African genre is now almost as likely to be heard in London or Los Angeles as it is in Lagos. 
 
"It`s a big moment and a big time for African music and Africans in general," said Burna Boy, during an interview at his home in Nigeria`s commercial capital Lagos. 
 
The artist, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, said his award was part of a "domino effect" that gives Africans more control over the way they are perceived through technology, as streaming services take the continent`s arts to a global audience. 
 
"I didn`t even want to be African when I was little," he said. "I wanted to be anything but who I was, because who we are wasn`t really the cool thing to be," said the artist, who grew up in southern Nigeria and moved to London as a child before returning to the west African country. 
 
He said his win showed that African music was attracting worldwide respect. 
 
Those sentiments were shared by many at Edge Music Academy, in the Jakande district of Lagos, where students compose music in a studio decked out with microphones, laptops and a keyboard. 
 
"The future is bright," said student Obi Prince. "The way Afrobeats is represented in the world right now can only be a start for Nigerian artists. We just have to do our thing and bring out ourselves more globally," he said. 
 
The academy`s chief executive officer, Michael Tijani, said Burna Boy`s win was a "huge deal" for Nigerian music. 
 
"People coming into the industry now have a more concrete belief that you can actually get as far as anybody else in the world can go," he said. 
 
Reclining in a chair in his home studio, Burna Boy reflected on his success. 
 
"You can`t mention the top five musicians in the world without throwing me or an African in there," he said, smiling. "Now we`re eye to eye with the people we used to look up to." 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

Modern African music is altering perceptions of the continent as part of a global cultural shift that marks a "big moment", Nigerian music artist Burna Boy told Reuters after hailing his first Grammy award.

Modern African music is altering perceptions of the continent as part of a global cultural shift that marks a "big moment", Nigerian music artist Burna Boy told Reuters after hailing his first Grammy award. Burna Boy was awarded a Grammy for the Best Global Music Album this month for `Twice As Tall` which was released last year. He is part of a generation of Nigerian music artists, which include Wizkid and Davido, that has enjoyed global success in recent years as proponents of the Afrobeats sound. The African genre is now almost as likely to be heard in London or Los Angeles as it is in Lagos. "It`s a big moment and a big time for African music and Africans in general," said Burna Boy, during an interview at his home in Nigeria`s commercial capital Lagos. The artist, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, said his award was part of a "domino effect" that gives Africans more control over the way they are perceived through technology, as streaming services take the continent`s arts to a global audience. "I didn`t even want to be African when I was little," he said. "I wanted to be anything but who I was, because who we are wasn`t really the cool thing to be," said the artist, who grew up in southern Nigeria and moved to London as a child before returning to the west African country. He said his win showed that African music was attracting worldwide respect. Those sentiments were shared by many at Edge Music Academy, in the Jakande district of Lagos, where students compose music in a studio decked out with microphones, laptops and a keyboard. "The future is bright," said student Obi Prince. "The way Afrobeats is represented in the world right now can only be a start for Nigerian artists. We just have to do our thing and bring out ourselves more globally," he said. The academy`s chief executive officer, Michael Tijani, said Burna Boy`s win was a "huge deal" for Nigerian music. "People coming into the industry now have a more concrete belief that you can actually get as far as anybody else in the world can go," he said. Reclining in a chair in his home studio, Burna Boy reflected on his success. "You can`t mention the top five musicians in the world without throwing me or an African in there," he said, smiling. "Now we`re eye to eye with the people we used to look up to."

Nigeria's Burna Boy says Grammy win marks 'big moment' for African music

Weaving contemporary designs into a traditional West African fabric, Nigerian Tsemaye Binitie is creating fashion he hopes can also bridge the gap between luxury and the everyday.

His material of choice is Aso-oke, a hand-woven cloth indigenous to the Yoruba people and historically used on special occasions.

Binitie, who cut his teeth as a design assistant with Stella McCartney in 2005, began using the fabric in 2017, and he infuses the yellow dresses that are his signature creations with cottons and silks to give them a post-modern feel.

“We started to use contemporary African art and culture within the threads of the collection so you see hints of it or very ... obvious (signs),” said Binitie, who divides his time between Lagos and London.

“It’s sort of informed fabric, informed colour, informed styling.”

Priced at between $300 and $4,000, his TB12 custom collection features Aso-oke – which means “top cloth” in Yoruba - in seven different shades.

“We are sort of preserving the culture, you know, that we’ve watched all our lives in front of us ... and teaching the younger generation that it is something to be proud of, something to want to wear,” he told Reuters.

Fellow Lagos designer Lisa Folawiyo specialises in a different traditional cloth, the West African wax prints known as Ankara, and her hybrid collection, called Batkara, incorporates Batik designs embellished with needle-work beadings and sequin trimmings. “We have merged what is indigenous to us with what is familiar in the West and we’ve made it ours,” she said.

That same synthesis informs the aesthetic of Alara, a Lagos store dedicated to showcasing contemporary African fashion for the Nigerian and the diaspora markets. Its Head of Partnerships, Arinola Fagbemi, says more and more people are thinking about African luxury “in terms of how we live on a day-to-day basis ... not just for celebratory moments.”

Weaving contemporary designs into a traditional West African fabric, Nigerian Tsemaye Binitie is creating fashion he hopes can also bridge the gap between luxury and the everyday.

Weaving contemporary designs into a traditional West African fabric, Nigerian Tsemaye Binitie is creating fashion he hopes can also bridge the gap between luxury and the everyday. His material of choice is Aso-oke, a hand-woven cloth indigenous to the Yoruba people and historically used on special occasions. Binitie, who cut his teeth as a design assistant with Stella McCartney in 2005, began using the fabric in 2017, and he infuses the yellow dresses that are his signature creations with cottons and silks to give them a post-modern feel. “We started to use contemporary African art and culture within the threads of the collection so you see hints of it or very ... obvious (signs),” said Binitie, who divides his time between Lagos and London. “It’s sort of informed fabric, informed colour, informed styling.” Priced at between $300 and $4,000, his TB12 custom collection features Aso-oke – which means “top cloth” in Yoruba - in seven different shades. “We are sort of preserving the culture, you know, that we’ve watched all our lives in front of us ... and teaching the younger generation that it is something to be proud of, something to want to wear,” he told Reuters. Fellow Lagos designer Lisa Folawiyo specialises in a different traditional cloth, the West African wax prints known as Ankara, and her hybrid collection, called Batkara, incorporates Batik designs embellished with needle-work beadings and sequin trimmings. “We have merged what is indigenous to us with what is familiar in the West and we’ve made it ours,” she said. That same synthesis informs the aesthetic of Alara, a Lagos store dedicated to showcasing contemporary African fashion for the Nigerian and the diaspora markets. Its Head of Partnerships, Arinola Fagbemi, says more and more people are thinking about African luxury “in terms of how we live on a day-to-day basis ... not just for celebratory moments.”

With traditional fabrics, Nigerian designers fashion a new aesthetic

A video emerged from&nbsp;Nigeria showing college students that were kidnapped being prodded by the abductors while the students beg for their lives. The video, which first popped up on March 13 showed girls cowering on the floor in a forest, while armed abductors hit them with sticks.

On Thursday night, gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in the Kaduna state, which lies in the northern Nigeria.&nbsp;In the aftermath, at least 39 students continue to remain missing, marking the fourth such abduction in the northern part of the country since December 2020.

In the footage, which has been circulated across social media, students could be asking for help in both English and Hausa. One of them could be heard saying that the captors are looking for a ransom worth $1.31 million (500 million Naira).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/nigeria-jihadists-ambush-military-convoy-19-troops-dead-security-sources-370322" hreflang="en">Nigeria jihadists ambush military convoy, 19 troops dead: security sources</a>

"Anybody that comes from anywhere to come and rescue us, or do anything by force, they are going to take our lives," a male student could be heard saying in the clip, while an armed man stood&nbsp;behind him.

The College Provost Bello Mohammed Usman, along with the mother of one of the kidnapped students identified many shown in the clip as students who were abducted. This includes a pregnant women.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/nigeria-jihadist-ambush-kills-19-troops-says-report-370263" hreflang="en">Nigeria: Jihadist ambush kills 19 troops, says report</a>

According to reports, the armed group broke into school located in the outskirts of Kaduna near a military academy at 11.30 pm local time on Thursday.

Security measures have been amped up. 180 students and staff members who were staying at the school have now been rescued and moved to a different location.

A video emerged from Nigeria showing college students that were kidnapped being prodded by the abductors while the students beg for their lives. The video, which first popped up on March 13 showed girls cowering on the floor in a forest, while armed abductors hit them with sticks.

A video emerged from Nigeria showing college students that were kidnapped being prodded by the abductors while the students beg for their lives. The video, which first popped up on March 13 showed girls cowering on the floor in a forest, while armed abductors hit them with sticks. On Thursday night, gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in the Kaduna state, which lies in the northern Nigeria. In the aftermath, at least 39 students continue to remain missing, marking the fourth such abduction in the northern part of the country since December 2020. In the footage, which has been circulated across social media, students could be asking for help in both English and Hausa. One of them could be heard saying that the captors are looking for a ransom worth $1.31 million (500 million Naira). Also read: Nigeria jihadists ambush military convoy, 19 troops dead: security sources "Anybody that comes from anywhere to come and rescue us, or do anything by force, they are going to take our lives," a male student could be heard saying in the clip, while an armed man stood behind him. The College Provost Bello Mohammed Usman, along with the mother of one of the kidnapped students identified many shown in the clip as students who were abducted. This includes a pregnant women. Also read: Nigeria: Jihadist ambush kills 19 troops, says report According to reports, the armed group broke into school located in the outskirts of Kaduna near a military academy at 11.30 pm local time on Thursday. Security measures have been amped up. 180 students and staff members who were staying at the school have now been rescued and moved to a different location.

Watch: Nigerian students kidnapped by gunmen beg for their lives

Islamic State-aligned jihadists ambushed a Nigerian military convoy, killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters in the northeastern state of Borno, security sources said Saturday.

The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday, the sources said.

The attack was the latest in a jihadist conflict which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in northeast Nigeria since it began more than a decade ago.

"We lost 15 soldiers and four civilian JTF (militia) in the terrorists' ambush in the forest near Gudumbali," a military officer, who asked not to be identified, told AFP.

He said 13 government fighters, including 10 troops, were wounded in the ambush.

The 10-vehicle convoy was on its way to Gudumbali from the town of Kukawa for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire, said another military source, who gave the same toll.

"The casualties were brought to Maiduguri this afternoon," the source told AFP, referring to the regional capital.&nbsp;

Militia leader Umar Ari said a vigilante leader in the area was among those killed.

Nigeria's army works with local militia forces as part of its battle against jihadists.

"Four of our comrades were among the dead, including, Yusuf Baba-Idris, the head of Civilian JTF in Kukawa," Ari said.

On Saturday, ISWAP issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the ambush, according to the SITE jihadist monitoring agency.

The Islamist group said its ambush "led to killing 33 elements and wounding nearly 20 others and taking one of them prisoner, while the survivors fled."

The group said its fighters also destroyed military vehicles, captured more and seized weapons and ammunition.

- Spreading insurgency -

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under increasing pressure to deal with Nigeria's security challenges, including the jihadist uprising, herder-farmer clashes as well as banditry and mass kidnappings in the northwest.

Nigerian security forces on Saturday were seeking to rescue dozens of students who were abducted in northwestern Kaduna state in the latest attack on a school.

Gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando at the outskirts of the state capital, Kaduna city, late Thursday and took more than 30 students away while the military rescued 180 after a battle.

Kidnap gangs are largely driven by ransom payments and have no known ideological leanings. Victims are often released shortly after negotiations.

ISWAP split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016, and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.

On March 1, jihadist fighters burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops, killing six civilians.

Nigeria's jihadist violence has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.

Islamic State-aligned jihadists ambushed a Nigerian military convoy, killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters in the northeastern state of Borno, security sources said Saturday.

Islamic State-aligned jihadists ambushed a Nigerian military convoy, killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters in the northeastern state of Borno, security sources said Saturday. The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday, the sources said. The attack was the latest in a jihadist conflict which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in northeast Nigeria since it began more than a decade ago. "We lost 15 soldiers and four civilian JTF (militia) in the terrorists' ambush in the forest near Gudumbali," a military officer, who asked not to be identified, told AFP. He said 13 government fighters, including 10 troops, were wounded in the ambush. The 10-vehicle convoy was on its way to Gudumbali from the town of Kukawa for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire, said another military source, who gave the same toll. "The casualties were brought to Maiduguri this afternoon," the source told AFP, referring to the regional capital. Militia leader Umar Ari said a vigilante leader in the area was among those killed. Nigeria's army works with local militia forces as part of its battle against jihadists. "Four of our comrades were among the dead, including, Yusuf Baba-Idris, the head of Civilian JTF in Kukawa," Ari said. On Saturday, ISWAP issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the ambush, according to the SITE jihadist monitoring agency. The Islamist group said its ambush "led to killing 33 elements and wounding nearly 20 others and taking one of them prisoner, while the survivors fled." The group said its fighters also destroyed military vehicles, captured more and seized weapons and ammunition. - Spreading insurgency - President Muhammadu Buhari has come under increasing pressure to deal with Nigeria's security challenges, including the jihadist uprising, herder-farmer clashes as well as banditry and mass kidnappings in the northwest. Nigerian security forces on Saturday were seeking to rescue dozens of students who were abducted in northwestern Kaduna state in the latest attack on a school. Gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando at the outskirts of the state capital, Kaduna city, late Thursday and took more than 30 students away while the military rescued 180 after a battle. Kidnap gangs are largely driven by ransom payments and have no known ideological leanings. Victims are often released shortly after negotiations. ISWAP split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016, and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints. On March 1, jihadist fighters burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops, killing six civilians. Nigeria's jihadist violence has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.

Nigeria jihadists ambush military convoy, 19 troops dead: security sources

A video of some of the students kidnapped from a college in northwest Nigeria emerged on Saturday (March 13), showing them cowering on a forest floor as armed captors hit them with sticks.

Beaten and cowering, kidnapped Nigerian students beg for help

Jihadists aligned with Islamic State ambushed a Nigerian military convoy killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters, reported AFP quoting military sources. The attack took place in Borno, a state in the northeastern region of Nigeria. The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday, the sources said.

Nigeria: Jihadist ambush kills 19 troops, says report

In Nigeria, 15 soldiers and 4, Militia fighters have been killed in an attack on a Nigerian military convoy by the Islamic state-aligned Jihadist. A military officer has informed that 13 government fighters, including 10 troops were also wounded in this ambush.

Nigerian military convoy attacked by the Islamic state-aligned Jihadist

Gunmen attacked a school in northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped 39 students, authorities said Friday. Several school staff were also kidnapped.

The kidnapping took place late Thursday night at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna state. The incident comes just weeks after a similar mass abduction in the region.

"The number of missing students is now confirmed to be 39, comprising 23 females and 16 males," Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, said in a statement.

The attack was reportedly carried out by a large group of "armed bandits."&nbsp;

Aruwan said the military engaged the attackers and were able to take 180 staff and students to safety.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, has strongly condemned the abduction and called for the immediate and unconditional release of those students that remain in captivity.

Nigerian authorities also said that "bandits" were behind the earlier abduction of 279 schoolgirls late last month in the region. Those girls were later freed following negotiations with the government.

The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is also known to kidnap young women and force them into marriage, most notably in the 2014 attack on the Chibok secondary school in Borno state.&nbsp;

Of the 276 girls taken, more than 100 are still missing nearly seven years later.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

Gunmen attacked a school in northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped 39 students, authorities said Friday. Several school staff were also kidnapped. The kidnapping took place late Thursday night at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna state.

Gunmen attacked a school in northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped 39 students, authorities said Friday. Several school staff were also kidnapped. The kidnapping took place late Thursday night at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna state. The incident comes just weeks after a similar mass abduction in the region. "The number of missing students is now confirmed to be 39, comprising 23 females and 16 males," Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, said in a statement. The attack was reportedly carried out by a large group of "armed bandits." Aruwan said the military engaged the attackers and were able to take 180 staff and students to safety. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, has strongly condemned the abduction and called for the immediate and unconditional release of those students that remain in captivity. Nigerian authorities also said that "bandits" were behind the earlier abduction of 279 schoolgirls late last month in the region. Those girls were later freed following negotiations with the government. The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is also known to kidnap young women and force them into marriage, most notably in the 2014 attack on the Chibok secondary school in Borno state. Of the 276 girls taken, more than 100 are still missing nearly seven years later. (with inputs from agencies)

Gunmen abduct 39 students, including girls, from school in northwestern Nigeria

Jihadists aligned with Islamic State ambushed a Nigerian military convoy killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters, reported AFP quoting military sources. The attack took place in Borno, a state in northeastern region of Nigeria. The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday, the sources said.

Jihadist conflict in Nigeria has killed 36,000 people so far and displaced hundreds of thousands in northeastern Nigeria. The conflict began more than a decade ago.

"We lost 15 soldiers and four civilian JTF (militia) in the terrorists' ambush in the forest near Gudumbali," a military officer, who asked not to be identified, told AFP. 
He said 13 government fighters, including 10 troops, were wounded in the ambush.

The 10-vehicle convoy was on its way to Gudumbali from the town of Kukawa for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire, said another military source, who gave the same toll.

On Saturday, ISWAP issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the ambush, according to the SITE jihadist monitoring agency.

ISWAP which split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016, has become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.

(With AFP inputs)

Jihadists aligned with Islamic State ambushed a Nigerian military convoy killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters, reported AFP quoting military sources. The attack took place in Borno, a state in northeastern region of Nigeria.

Jihadists aligned with Islamic State ambushed a Nigerian military convoy killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters, reported AFP quoting military sources. The attack took place in Borno, a state in northeastern region of Nigeria. The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday, the sources said. Jihadist conflict in Nigeria has killed 36,000 people so far and displaced hundreds of thousands in northeastern Nigeria. The conflict began more than a decade ago. "We lost 15 soldiers and four civilian JTF (militia) in the terrorists' ambush in the forest near Gudumbali," a military officer, who asked not to be identified, told AFP. He said 13 government fighters, including 10 troops, were wounded in the ambush. The 10-vehicle convoy was on its way to Gudumbali from the town of Kukawa for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire, said another military source, who gave the same toll. On Saturday, ISWAP issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the ambush, according to the SITE jihadist monitoring agency. ISWAP which split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016, has become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints. (With AFP inputs)

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has banned mining and imposed a no-flight zone in the north-western state of Zamfara. This comes after the abduction of almost 300 school girls last week.

Nigeria imposes a no flight zone in Zamfara, action after kidnapping incident

Gunmen have freed all 279 girls kidnapped last week from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria, officials said on Tuesday, and victims told of how their abductors had beaten and threatened to shoot them during a forced march into captivity.

Dozens of girls in Muslim veils sat in a hall in a state government building before being taken for medical checks. A few parents arrived, and one father wept with joy after seeing his daughter.

Farida Lawali, 15, told how she and the other girls had been taken to a forest by the kidnappers.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/tragic-tale-of-nigerian-girls-who-were-recently-abducted-from-school-367449" hreflang="en">Tragic tale of Nigerian girls who were recently abducted from school</a>

"They carried the sick ones that cannot move. We were walking in the stones and thorns," she said, covered in a light blue veil. "They started hitting us with guns so that we could move," she added. "While they were beating them with guns, some of them were crying and moving at the same time."

"They said they will shoot anybody who did not continue to walk," another of the girls, Umma Abubakar, told Reuters, saying many had injuries that had made walking difficult.

Relief at their return was tempered by concern over the circumstances of their release. A series of similar school abductions in recent months has led many Nigerians to worry that regional authorities are making the situation worse by letting kidnappers go unpunished or paying them off.

Zailani Bappa, a media adviser to the state governor, denied that a ransom had been paid, but said the captors had been offered amnesty, as well as assistance to resettle at a site with newly built schools, a hospital and other facilities.

"The process means amnesty for those who repent and will be assisted to resettle. Hence, no monetary inducement or ransom was involved in the rescue. It was a willing surrender of the girls," he said. "Those who surrender their arms will be assisted to start a new life. Since they are herders, they will be supported with a few cows each."

President Muhammadu Buhari called for the captors to be brought to justice and said that if any ransoms were being paid, this would only make future attacks more likely.

Criminal gangs

The pupils from Jangebe, a town in Zamfara state, were seized just after midnight on Friday. All had now been freed, Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle said.

Boarding schools in northern Nigeria have become targets for mass kidnappings for ransom by armed criminal gangs.

The trend was started by the jihadist group Boko Haram, which kidnapped 270 schoolgirls in 2014, around 100 of whom have never been found. But recent months have seen a sudden escalation of similar attacks, including the abduction of 344 boys in December.

Friday's raid on the Government Girls Science Secondary School was the second school abduction in little over a week in the northwest.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told Reuters that the authorities have made payoffs in the past in exchange for child hostages, creating an incentive for abductions.

Several of those officials declined to comment on Tuesday on whether they believed a ransom had been paid in the latest incident.

Initial reports put the number kidnapped at 317. Zamfara government spokesman Sulaiman Tanau Anka said the total was 279, as some of the girls had escaped into the bush during the raid.

Lawal Abdullahi, whose seven daughters were among those kidnapped and freed, said the incident would not deter him from schooling his children.

"It's a ploy to deny our girls ... from getting the Western education in which we are far behind," he told Reuters. "We should not succumb to blackmail. My advice to government is that they should take immediate precautions to stop further abductions."

The U.N. children's agency UNICEF urged the Nigerian government to protect schools so children and parents will not be afraid.

As recently as Saturday, gunmen released 27 teenage boys who had been kidnapped from their school on Feb. 17 in Niger state.

Gunmen have freed all 279 girls kidnapped last week from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria, officials said on Tuesday, and victims told of how their abductors had beaten and threatened to shoot them during a forced march into captivity.

Gunmen have freed all 279 girls kidnapped last week from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria, officials said on Tuesday, and victims told of how their abductors had beaten and threatened to shoot them during a forced march into captivity. Dozens of girls in Muslim veils sat in a hall in a state government building before being taken for medical checks. A few parents arrived, and one father wept with joy after seeing his daughter. Farida Lawali, 15, told how she and the other girls had been taken to a forest by the kidnappers. Also see: Tragic tale of Nigerian girls who were recently abducted from school "They carried the sick ones that cannot move. We were walking in the stones and thorns," she said, covered in a light blue veil. "They started hitting us with guns so that we could move," she added. "While they were beating them with guns, some of them were crying and moving at the same time." "They said they will shoot anybody who did not continue to walk," another of the girls, Umma Abubakar, told Reuters, saying many had injuries that had made walking difficult. Relief at their return was tempered by concern over the circumstances of their release. A series of similar school abductions in recent months has led many Nigerians to worry that regional authorities are making the situation worse by letting kidnappers go unpunished or paying them off. Zailani Bappa, a media adviser to the state governor, denied that a ransom had been paid, but said the captors had been offered amnesty, as well as assistance to resettle at a site with newly built schools, a hospital and other facilities. "The process means amnesty for those who repent and will be assisted to resettle. Hence, no monetary inducement or ransom was involved in the rescue. It was a willing surrender of the girls," he said. "Those who surrender their arms will be assisted to start a new life. Since they are herders, they will be supported with a few cows each." President Muhammadu Buhari called for the captors to be brought to justice and said that if any ransoms were being paid, this would only make future attacks more likely. Criminal gangs The pupils from Jangebe, a town in Zamfara state, were seized just after midnight on Friday. All had now been freed, Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle said. Boarding schools in northern Nigeria have become targets for mass kidnappings for ransom by armed criminal gangs. The trend was started by the jihadist group Boko Haram, which kidnapped 270 schoolgirls in 2014, around 100 of whom have never been found. But recent months have seen a sudden escalation of similar attacks, including the abduction of 344 boys in December. Friday's raid on the Government Girls Science Secondary School was the second school abduction in little over a week in the northwest. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told Reuters that the authorities have made payoffs in the past in exchange for child hostages, creating an incentive for abductions. Several of those officials declined to comment on Tuesday on whether they believed a ransom had been paid in the latest incident. Initial reports put the number kidnapped at 317. Zamfara government spokesman Sulaiman Tanau Anka said the total was 279, as some of the girls had escaped into the bush during the raid. Lawal Abdullahi, whose seven daughters were among those kidnapped and freed, said the incident would not deter him from schooling his children. "It's a ploy to deny our girls ... from getting the Western education in which we are far behind," he told Reuters. "We should not succumb to blackmail. My advice to government is that they should take immediate precautions to stop further abductions." The U.N. children's agency UNICEF urged the Nigerian government to protect schools so children and parents will not be afraid. As recently as Saturday, gunmen released 27 teenage boys who had been kidnapped from their school on Feb. 17 in Niger state.

'Crying and moving': Nigerian schoolgirls recount forced march kidnap ordeal

Tragic tale of Nigerian girls who were recently abducted from school

Nigerian artist, Nathaniel Hodonu is cutting coconut shells and shaping them into leaf-shaped designs for his latest art project in Nigeria's megacity, Lagos.

Nigerian sculptor transforms coconut shells into art

Hundreds of students who were kidnapped in Nigeria just a few days back have been released. Zamfara state government has confirmed that all of them are in good health.

News Alert: Hundreds of kidnapped Nigerian students released

Humaira Mustapha made no effort to wipe away the tears rolling down her cheeks, as she spoke about her two kidnapped daughters.

"Whenever I think about my daughters I'm filled with indescribable grief," Mustapha told AFP.

Seated against the plastered mud wall of her bare sitting room, her tears left damp spots on her navy blue hijab (Islamic veil).

Hafsa and Aisha, 14 and 13 respectively, were among the 317 schoolgirls abducted by gunmen from their hostels in an all-girls boarding school in the Zamfara state's remote village of Jangebe.

"Whenever I serve food to their younger sister, tears keep flowing from my eyes because I keep thinking about the hunger and thirst they are going through," said the 30-year-old mother of three.

But she only serves her daughter.

"I can't eat since the abduction," she said.

"I'm appealing to the governor to do everything to rescue our daughters who are facing real danger to their lives," Mustapha added.

"As a mother, my anguish is crushing me."

- 'I hid under the bed' -

Villagers say more than 100 gunmen in military uniforms invaded the village early Friday morning.

They fired their weapons incessantly, challenging male residents to come out for a fight. No one dared.

Mukhtar Rabiu, another parent, said the gunmen then headed to the school's hostel for the sleeping students, forcing them to trek into the bush.

Rabiu's daughter Shamsiyya was one of around 50 schoolgirls who managed to escape.

"They came into the school around 1:00 am and went into dormitories hurling insults at us, calling on us to come out while firing into the air," she said told AFP from her home in the village.

"They wore military uniforms," the 13-year-old added.

"I hid under the bed until they were gone after mustering the students they could get hold of.

"Some of us hid inside toilets", she added, from behind a milk-coloured veil.

"Every time I think about my colleagues I feel depressed. I'm lonely and have been praying for their safe return" she added.

On the streets of the quiet village, residents carried on with their lives, suppressing their anxiety.

- Deserted school -

The school, located on the edge of the village, lies virtually deserted.

The only sounds are the birds in the trees scattered around the school compound, and the odd bleat from goats there.

The school's vice principal and a security guard manning the entrance are the only people still present.

Iron beds, footwear, mattresses, and abandoned clothing litter dormitories from where the schoolgirls were abducted.

Boxes, buckets full of water, and plastic kettles are scattered on the hostels' dusty floor.

Classroom chairs are empty, dozens of computers sit idle on desks and books gather dust on the shelves.

"It would have been better if my two daughters had died and I buried them -- knowing that Allah who gave them to me took them -- than having them taken away by bandits," said Abubakar Abdurrahman Zaki.

His two daughters were among those abducted.

This latest raid came a week after Zamfara state governor Bello Matawalle announced an amnesty for repentant bandits blamed for a string of abductions and for deadly raids on local villages.

"No one knows the condition of the girls, which worries everybody," said one local, Bello Gidan-Ruwa.

"The government said they are making efforts to rescue the girls but their efforts are not good enough until our girls are safely back," he added.

Humaira Mustapha made no effort to wipe away the tears rolling down her cheeks, as she spoke about her two kidnapped daughters. "Whenever I think about my daughters I'm filled with indescribable grief," Mustapha told AFP.

Humaira Mustapha made no effort to wipe away the tears rolling down her cheeks, as she spoke about her two kidnapped daughters. "Whenever I think about my daughters I'm filled with indescribable grief," Mustapha told AFP. Seated against the plastered mud wall of her bare sitting room, her tears left damp spots on her navy blue hijab (Islamic veil). Hafsa and Aisha, 14 and 13 respectively, were among the 317 schoolgirls abducted by gunmen from their hostels in an all-girls boarding school in the Zamfara state's remote village of Jangebe. "Whenever I serve food to their younger sister, tears keep flowing from my eyes because I keep thinking about the hunger and thirst they are going through," said the 30-year-old mother of three. But she only serves her daughter. "I can't eat since the abduction," she said. "I'm appealing to the governor to do everything to rescue our daughters who are facing real danger to their lives," Mustapha added. "As a mother, my anguish is crushing me." - 'I hid under the bed' - Villagers say more than 100 gunmen in military uniforms invaded the village early Friday morning. They fired their weapons incessantly, challenging male residents to come out for a fight. No one dared. Mukhtar Rabiu, another parent, said the gunmen then headed to the school's hostel for the sleeping students, forcing them to trek into the bush. Rabiu's daughter Shamsiyya was one of around 50 schoolgirls who managed to escape. "They came into the school around 1:00 am and went into dormitories hurling insults at us, calling on us to come out while firing into the air," she said told AFP from her home in the village. "They wore military uniforms," the 13-year-old added. "I hid under the bed until they were gone after mustering the students they could get hold of. "Some of us hid inside toilets", she added, from behind a milk-coloured veil. "Every time I think about my colleagues I feel depressed. I'm lonely and have been praying for their safe return" she added. On the streets of the quiet village, residents carried on with their lives, suppressing their anxiety. - Deserted school - The school, located on the edge of the village, lies virtually deserted. The only sounds are the birds in the trees scattered around the school compound, and the odd bleat from goats there. The school's vice principal and a security guard manning the entrance are the only people still present. Iron beds, footwear, mattresses, and abandoned clothing litter dormitories from where the schoolgirls were abducted. Boxes, buckets full of water, and plastic kettles are scattered on the hostels' dusty floor. Classroom chairs are empty, dozens of computers sit idle on desks and books gather dust on the shelves. "It would have been better if my two daughters had died and I buried them -- knowing that Allah who gave them to me took them -- than having them taken away by bandits," said Abubakar Abdurrahman Zaki. His two daughters were among those abducted. This latest raid came a week after Zamfara state governor Bello Matawalle announced an amnesty for repentant bandits blamed for a string of abductions and for deadly raids on local villages. "No one knows the condition of the girls, which worries everybody," said one local, Bello Gidan-Ruwa. "The government said they are making efforts to rescue the girls but their efforts are not good enough until our girls are safely back," he added.

Tears, anxiety as kidnapped schoolgirls remain captive in Nigeria

Gunmen seized more than 300 girls in a night-time raid on a school in northwest Nigeria on Friday (February 26). According to the latest reports, kidnapped schoolgirls are freed now.

Reports: 317 kidnapped schoolgirls freed in Nigeria

317 girls students from Zamfara state were kidnapped a few days back. However, one of them managed to escape from the abductors and describes her horrific experience. More than 100 girls are still missing.

Parents wait and pray for more than 300 kidnapped schoolgirls

317 girls students from Zamfara state were kidnapped a few days back. However, one of the students managed to escape from the abductors. she describes her horrific experience. More than 100 girls are still missing, Parents call out the government, urging them to improve security in the state.

A girl manages to escape from abductors describes her ordeals

Gunmen in Nigeria on Saturday released 42 people, including 27 students, who were kidnapped from a boarding school last week in the north-central state of Niger, the state's governor said.

School children abducted in Nigeria's Niger state released

Gunmen have abducted schoolgirls in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state, a state spokesman said on Friday. The incident is the second such kidnapping in just over a week and the third since December in Nigeria's north, where a surge in armed militancy has led to a widespread breakdown of security.

Nigeria's growing kidnapping industry, hundreds have been killed

There is another mass abduction that has been reported in Nigeria. And in this latest incident, nearly about 317 school girls have been abducted by armed bandits in the Northwest Zamfara region.

Gunmen abduct Schoolgirls in the Northwest Zamfara region

100s of girls are missing after a new mass kidnapping at Nigeria's school. Kidnappers have abducted students in Nigeria's Zamfara.

Nigeria: Hundreds of girls missing after mass kidnapping

In Niger, votes have begun to count in the presidential run-off that will usher in the first democratic handover of the power in the country's history. During Niger's presidential vote on Sunday, 7 election workers were killed when their vehicle struck a landmine.

Niger holds historic Presidential polls

Kidnappers have released 53 people including women and children they seized on a bus in Nigeria, local authorities said, while dozens of others taken from a school in a separate incident are still missing.

Kidnappers in Nigeria release 53 including women and children seized on bus

Kidnappers have released 53 people including women and children they seized on a bus in Nigeria, local authorities said, while dozens of others taken from a school in a separate incident are still missing.

Criminal gangs known locally as "bandits" in northwest and central Nigeria have scaled up attacks in recent years, kidnapping, raping and pillaging.&nbsp;

A gang last week had seized 53 people, including 20 women and nine children, who were travelling on a state-owned bus in Kundu village in Niger State.

"I was delighted to receive the 53... bus passengers who were abducted by armed bandits a week ago," the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, said in a tweet late Sunday.

It is unknown if a ransom was paid but state representatives have previously said they would not pay any.

"We went through one week of dialogue, consultations, hard work and sleepless nights because we had to secure their release within the shortest possible time," the governor's spokeswoman, Mary Noel-Berje, said in a statement.&nbsp;

The freed bus passengers were receiving medical checkups before being reunited with their families, she added.

In a separate incident, 42 people including 27 schoolboys were abducted from a school last week, and are still missing.

"The Students of the Government Science College Kagara, are still in the hands of their captives but that everything is being done to ensure their release," Noel-Berje said.

A plane that was scheduled to take part in a surveillance mission in connection with a possible rescue operation crashed on Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, killing seven people.

Gunmen last week killed 10 people and abducted at least 23 others in two separate attacks in the state.

"We are witnessing these attacks now, almost, on daily basis and it is worrisome," Noel-Berje said at the time.

Bandits are known to hide in camps in Rugu forest, which straddles Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states. Despite the deployment of troops, deadly attacks persist.

The gangs are largely driven by financial motives and have no known ideological leanings.

But there is growing concern they are being infiltrated by jihadists from the northeast who are waging a decade-old insurgency to establish an Islamic state. 
&nbsp;

Kidnappers have released 53 people including women and children they seized on a bus in Nigeria, local authorities said, while dozens of others taken from a school in a separate incident are still missing. Criminal gangs known locally as "bandits" in northwest and central Nigeria have scaled up attacks in recent years, kidnapping, raping and pillaging. A gang last week had seized 53 people, including 20 women and nine children, who were travelling on a state-owned bus in Kundu village in Niger State. "I was delighted to receive the 53... bus passengers who were abducted by armed bandits a week ago," the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, said in a tweet late Sunday. It is unknown if a ransom was paid but state representatives have previously said they would not pay any. "We went through one week of dialogue, consultations, hard work and sleepless nights because we had to secure their release within the shortest possible time," the governor's spokeswoman, Mary Noel-Berje, said in a statement. The freed bus passengers were receiving medical checkups before being reunited with their families, she added. In a separate incident, 42 people including 27 schoolboys were abducted from a school last week, and are still missing. "The Students of the Government Science College Kagara, are still in the hands of their captives but that everything is being done to ensure their release," Noel-Berje said. A plane that was scheduled to take part in a surveillance mission in connection with a possible rescue operation crashed on Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, killing seven people. Gunmen last week killed 10 people and abducted at least 23 others in two separate attacks in the state. "We are witnessing these attacks now, almost, on daily basis and it is worrisome," Noel-Berje said at the time. Bandits are known to hide in camps in Rugu forest, which straddles Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states. Despite the deployment of troops, deadly attacks persist. The gangs are largely driven by financial motives and have no known ideological leanings. But there is growing concern they are being infiltrated by jihadists from the northeast who are waging a decade-old insurgency to establish an Islamic state.

Seven people on board a military aircraft died in a crash Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, the country's airforce spokesman said.&nbsp;

The cause of the accident is still unknown but officials said the pilot had reported an engine failure.

"A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure," spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement.

"Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash," he added.&nbsp;

Video posted to social media showed water cannon being used to extinguish the flames at the scene, while a large number of onlookers crowded around.

The airforce said an investigation into the accident was underway.

Nigeria's minister of aviation Sirika Hadi also confirmed the accident.

"We should remain calm &amp; wait for the outcome of investigation by the military," Hadi said in a Tweet.

The plane was heading to Minna, the capital of nearby Niger state.

Seven people on board a military aircraft died in a crash Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, the country's airforce spokesman said. The cause of the accident is still unknown but officials said the pilot had reported an engine failure.

Seven people on board a military aircraft died in a crash Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, the country's airforce spokesman said. The cause of the accident is still unknown but officials said the pilot had reported an engine failure. "A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure," spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement. "Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash," he added. Video posted to social media showed water cannon being used to extinguish the flames at the scene, while a large number of onlookers crowded around. The airforce said an investigation into the accident was underway. Nigeria's minister of aviation Sirika Hadi also confirmed the accident. "We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military," Hadi said in a Tweet. The plane was heading to Minna, the capital of nearby Niger state.

Seven Nigerian military personnel die in plane crash

Schools across the region were closed and surveillance aircraft were dispatched to scour the forest.

41 students still missing in Nigeria’s latest school kidnapping

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