By Milcah Tanimu
Mustapha Abubakar, one of the students who managed to escape the recent abduction in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shared his harrowing experience with reporters. Abubakar, among the 280 schoolchildren initially kidnapped, recounted how he stealthily hid in a shrub, emulating a snake, while the bandits moved his fellow students.
Of the 280 kidnapped students, Abubakar and 27 others successfully reunited with their families. The victims, ranging from 5 to 18 years old, faced a treacherous journey in the hands of the abductors.
Speaking to BBC Hausa in Kaduna, Abubakar detailed the arduous trek through the bush, sometimes crawling and enduring thirst. The bandits treated the children like a herd of cows, with some even being transported on motorcycles. Despite exhaustion, the bandits provided no food, surviving on leaves and wild fruits.
Revealing his escape strategy, Abubakar explained how he observed a brown shrub resembling his trousers and hid inside, crawling like a snake until it was safe to come out. He eventually encountered an elderly man, seeking directions to the main road for water.
After a marathon race and reaching the community of Gayan, Abubakar successfully escaped the clutches of the abductors. The incident occurred on March 7, 2024, when bandits attacked the Kuriga community during the morning assembly at LEA Primary School, kidnapping over 280 students and teachers.
According to an anonymous local source, the bandits encircled the school premises, abducting primary and secondary school students who had been relocated to the primary school due to the fear of bandit attacks. One student was shot but survived, receiving treatment at the Birnin Gwari hospital.
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