Toddlers among more than 50 schoolchildren kidnapped in Nigeria

Gunmen person kidnapped much than 50 children from 3 schools successful the aforesaid municipality successful north-eastern Nigeria, teachers and residents person said.

Most of those missing are aged betwixt 2 and 5 years old.

Eyewitnesses who saw the attacks connected Friday greeting successful Mussa, Borno state, accidental the suspects utilized the children arsenic quality shields portion fleeing connected motorbikes, preventing information forces from opening fire.

No radical has claimed work for the attack, and authorities officials person yet to respond to the BBC's requests for comment.

The kidnappings took spot astatine the town's Government Day Secondary School, Mussa Central Primary School, and State Universal Basis Education Board (SUBEB) Primary School.

Locals successful Borno authorities person endured decades of insecurity. These latest attacks person prompted immoderate nonmigratory of Mussa to fly the area.

Yet traumatised parents person told the BBC they consciousness they person nary prime but to hold successful anguish for quality astir their children.

One man, who did not privation to beryllium named for fearfulness of reprisal, said his woman was inconsolable aft their six-year-old girl was snatched distant by the gunmen.

Abdu Dunama, headmaster of Mussa Central Primary School, described proceeding gunfire earlier equipped men stormed the schoolhouse and rounded up children.

He said 34 children - mostly nursery pupils aged 5 and nether - were seized by the attackers from their classrooms.

Residents, speaking connected information of anonymity, said the suspected militants arrived astatine the schools connected motorcycles soon aft troops connected patrol near the town.

Witnesses said the gunmen fired sporadically, forcing residents to tally for cover. Many parents watched helplessly from a adjacent elevation arsenic their children were loaded onto motorcycles and taken away.

Some older students managed to fly into adjacent bushes during the chaos, according to residents.

The mostly farming assemblage - already struggling economically - is present appealing urgently to the authorities to assistance unafraid the harmless instrumentality of the children.

Dunama, who is successful interaction with information forces, says troops are presently connected the crushed and continuing efforts to way the abductors.

You whitethorn besides beryllium funny in: