Nigeria’s long-running security crisis once again surged to the forefront of global attention after authorities confirmed the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State. The mass kidnapping, carried out on November 21 in the village of Papiri, was one of the largest in nearly a decade, drawing comparisons to the 2014 Chibok tragedy that shocked the world. While the latest development offers a moment of relief for some families, the broader crisis remains unresolved: 165 students and staff from the same raid are still being held, and the government is racing against time to prevent yet another mass tragedy.

The attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School is symptomatic of the escalating violence plaguing northern Nigeria, where gangs commonly referred to as “bandits” have turned mass abductions into a lucrative enterprise. These groups-ranging from opportunistic criminal networks to extremist factions-operate with near impunity across large swaths of the north, exploiting weak state presence, porous borders, and a collapsing trust between communities and authorities. The latest abduction underscores just how entrenched the crisis has become and how difficult it is proving for President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reverse the trend.

Gunmen stormed the boarding school shortly before dawn, rounding up 315 individuals-303 students and 12 teachers-in what security officials have described as the worst school kidnapping since the Chibok abductions. The attackers overpowered local security forces with ease, demonstrating once again the inadequacy of the security architecture in rural areas. Within days, 50 students managed to escape, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), but the majority remained in captivity for over two weeks.

Channels Television, citing government sources, reported on December 7 that 100 additional hostages had been released. Although the government hailed the development as a breakthrough, it did not disclose whether a ransom was paid or the terms negotiated-an omission that has become increasingly common in Nigeria’s handling of kidnapping cases. Authorities often deny paying ransoms publicly, even as local communities and victims suggest otherwise. The secrecy fuels speculation, raises questions about long-term deterrence, and risks incentivizing more kidnappings.

Daniel Atori, spokesperson for CAN in Niger State, expressed cautious optimism: “We hope and pray it is true and will be looking forward to when the remaining [hostages] will be released,” he told Reuters. Parents, meanwhile, are living through anguish, uncertain whether negotiations are proceeding effectively or if more violence may occur.

Faced with mounting public anger, President Tinubu declared a “nationwide security emergency” on November 26. His announcement included orders to recruit tens of thousands of new security personnel and expand joint military-police operations across the country’s most volatile regions. Critics, however, argue that such measures-while necessary-are insufficient without broader reforms.

Nigeria’s security forces are overstretched, underfunded, and often plagued by corruption. Rural communities routinely complain about slow response times, lack of intelligence coordination, and inadequate equipment. The bandit groups, meanwhile, have grown richer and more sophisticated, with access to heavy weaponry smuggled from Libya, Chad, and the Sahel.

Tinubu’s emergency declaration also reflects a deeper acknowledgement: the state cannot currently protect schools, villages, or roads across much of the north. The rise in abductions since November 17-at least 402 victims in four states, according to the UN human rights office-illustrates a spiraling crisis that shows no signs of abating.

The UN expressed “shock” at the scale of the abductions, warning that the targeting of schoolchildren threatens to roll back years of progress on education and children’s rights. Borno, Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara-states with some of Nigeria’s lowest literacy and school enrollment rates-are now experiencing renewed trauma that could deter thousands of families from sending their children to school.

The crisis has attracted renewed foreign interest. On December 8, a US congressional delegation met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to discuss counterterrorism cooperation. The United States has long partnered with Nigeria on issues ranging from intelligence sharing to arms sales, but Washington’s willingness to deepen involvement often depends on human rights safeguards and the Nigerian military’s record-an enduring point of friction.

France also weighed in on the crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron said his government would expand intelligence support to Nigeria after receiving a request from Tinubu. This marks a notable shift: France’s influence in West Africa has diminished sharply after military juntas in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso expelled French troops over accusations of ineffective counterinsurgency operations. With France seeking new regional partnerships, Nigeria-Africa’s largest economy and a democratic state-is seen as an anchor of stability that Western powers are eager to support.

However, intelligence assistance alone cannot solve Nigeria’s security breakdown. Counterterrorism experts argue that the root causes-land disputes, rural poverty, weak governance, and criminal impunity-must be addressed in parallel. Without reforms in policing, development, and local administration, foreign support risks becoming a short-term bandage over a chronic wound.

As families in Papiri celebrate the return of 100 kidnapped students, the deep uncertainty surrounding the remaining hostages casts a long shadow. Every day they remain in captivity increases the risk of violence, exploitation, and long-term trauma. For Nigeria, the crisis is a grim reminder that mass kidnappings-once rare-have now evolved into a national security threat capable of destabilizing entire regions.

President Tinubu faces mounting pressure not only to secure the safe return of the remaining 165 captives but also to demonstrate that his government can protect communities from the next wave of abductions. Without major structural reforms, improved intelligence gathering, and a credible deterrence strategy, Nigeria risks being trapped in a cycle of mass kidnappings that erodes public trust and undermines national stability.

The release of 100 children is a welcome development-but it is far from a solution. Until the remaining hostages return and the root causes of insecurity are addressed, Nigeria’s battle against mass abduction will remain an uphill fight, and families across the north will continue living in fear of the next knock on the door.

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Damsana Ranadhiran, Special Contributor to Blitz is a security analyst specializing on South Asian affairs.