In the world of international crises, it’s easy to forget that there are still places where children are targeted and violence is a frequent visitor. In Nigeria, the recent news involved the release of 24 schoolgirls who had been abducted by armed groups. Although some might see this as a victory, it’s essential to spotlight the troubling pattern that’s developed in the country, where kidnappings have become far too common.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, constantly finds itself tangled in tales of crime and corruption. It’s ironic, really, considering it also receives a significant chunk of change—around $900 million annually—in U.S. aid. One might wonder what exactly Nigeria is doing with all that money if they can’t even secure their schools from marauding gangs. The recent incidents have highlighted how these abductions have become almost routine.
In a daring attack, gunmen invaded a government-run boarding school, killing a staff member and kidnapping 25 students. Miraculously, one of these young girls managed to escape during the ordeal. Thankfully, the rest were later recovered, though the details of their rescue remain sketchy at best. Some say it was a negotiation; others suggest that the bandits had a change of heart—not likely, but let’s go with that for optimism’s sake.
The problem doesn’t stop there. Just days after this incident, another bold group abducted hundreds of students from a Catholic school—250 students are still unaccounted for. Then, adding to the chaos, a church was attacked, resulting in the deaths of two parishioners and the kidnapping of 38 more. These acts have strained relations across the globe, and it’s gotten to the point where international intervention is being discussed.
President Trump, never one to mince words, has made it clear that the U.S. is considering military action if these atrocities don’t cease. It’s an arguably overdue stance considering what’s unfolding appears to be a targeted attack against Christians. With such a grim backdrop, the rest of the world watches and waits, hoping that Nigeria will take a page from the script of common sense and start acting to protect its citizens, especially its most vulnerable. If actions like this don’t inspire change, maybe the threat of losing U.S. aid will.
