300 children kidnapped in Nigeria released after two weeks

Abuja: At least 300 children abducted from school two weeks ago in Kaduna state in northwestern Nigeria have been released, the state governor said in a statement.

Kudna Governor Uba Sani did not elaborate on the release of the 287 students who were abducted from the town of Kuriga in the province's interior on March 7.

Kidnapping of children from schools in northern Nigeria has been common since 2014 and is a matter of grave concern. At least 1,400 students have been abducted from Nigerian schools since 2014.

At least 100 of the children released are aged 12 or younger. In a statement, Kudana Governor Uba Sani thanked Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the safe release of the children.

However, no organization has yet taken responsibility for this kidnapping. In Nigeria, arrests are rarely made after mass kidnappings because kidnappers release victims only after a deal is reached with the government or families.