Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared a national emergency on 26/11, stating, "This is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more troops to the field, especially in high-security risk areas."

In just one week, attackers abducted 25 female students, 38 worshippers, 315 students and teachers, 13 women and girls walking near a farm, and ten other women and children across the country. While dozens have been rescued and some managed to escape, more than 265 children and teachers abducted from a boarding school in Niger state on 21/11 remain missing.

In addition to declaring a nationwide security state of emergency, President Tinubu also called on the armed forces to recruit more members to confront militant groups.

Chaos at St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger state, Nigeria, on 21/11 after 315 teachers and students were abducted. AFP

Last weekend, he ordered the redeployment of VIP protection police to core duties and approved the recruitment of an additional 30,000 officers.

The Nigerian President had previously directed the intake of another 20,000 police officers, bringing the total number of new officers to 50,000.

Nigeria has endured a series of child abductions since the Islamic militant group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls in Chibok, in the country's northeast, in 2014. That incident occurred in an unstable region and sparked global outrage.

By Huyen Le (AFP)