Current Affairs

Issue

Group of bandits have kidnapped students from a boarding school in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna sate.

 

Background

Nigeria has a complex political situation with large number of insurgent groups fighting against the state. The major losers are common citizens.

 

Details

• This is tenth such kidnapping of school students since the infamous kidnapping of girls by Boko Haram militant group few years ago.

• This time around, the authorities say that a group of armed bandits were responsible for the kidnapping process.

• The bandits have been invoking terror in lives of common citizens of the area. They have also been providing vital support for Jihadis and destabilizing the state.

• The Nigerian army had recently rescued another group of students from bandits. They managed to kill about 40 bandits and recovered heavy ammunition.

Kidnappings by bandits

• The 2014 kidnapping of school girls by Boko Haram gained international attention. There was a campaign to bring back the children, which was even supported by Michele Obama.

• The Boko Haram was accused of using the girls as human shield when they planned to launch attack on the government.

• The process of banditry involves using weapons and violence to carry out extraction, killing, kidnappings, rapes etc. They do not have ideology or any intention.

Start of banditry

• The banditry originated as a fierce competition between different groups for scarce resources. They started using violence for snatching cattle, water, food etc.

• The individual competition soon turned into community rivalry, between different tribes and religion. The main idea was to dominate the area.

• Large sections depend on banditry for their income. They currently enjoy lavish lifestyle supported by ruthless actions.

 

Boko Haram

• Boko Haram’s official name is Jama’a Ahl as-Sunnah Li-da’wa wa-al Jihad. It is an organization that rejects western education and customs.

• It originated in Northeast Nigeria and soon spread to neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad.