KURIGA, Nigeria – The heart-wrenching saga of mass abductions continues to haunt Nigeria's northwest as Rashidat Hamza, a distraught mother, grapples with the harrowing disappearance of her children. In the wake of the latest spate of kidnappings, despair grips Kuriga town, where the echoes of gunshots reverberate alongside the cries of anguished parents.

More than two days after the abduction of nearly 300 students, ranging from ages 7 to 18, from their school in Kuriga, Rashidat Hamza remains in shock. Her voice trembling with emotion, she shared her anguish with an Associated Press team, her plea echoing the sentiments of countless parents engulfed in uncertainty and fear.

"We have never seen this kind of thing where our children were abducted from their school," Rashidat lamented. "We don’t know what to do, but we believe in God."

The recent wave of abductions in Kuriga is just one chapter in a grim narrative unfolding across northern Nigeria. From the remote corners of Sokoto to the troubled streets of Borno, the scourge of kidnapping casts a dark shadow over the region, underscoring the security crisis plaguing Africa's most populous country.

Thursday's attack in Kuriga bore the hallmarks of brazen audacity as gunmen descended upon the government primary and secondary school, unleashing chaos and terror. Nura Ahmad, a teacher at the school, recounted the harrowing ordeal, describing how gunmen, riding on bikes, stormed the premises and abducted scores of children within minutes.

"They surrounded the school and blocked all passages ... and roads," Nura Ahmad recalled. "They marched the children away in an operation that lasted less than five minutes."

For Abdullahi Usman, a 14-year-old student who narrowly escaped captivity, the memories of gunshots and chaos are seared into his consciousness. Forced to flee amidst the mayhem, Abdullahi recounted the chilling commands of the kidnappers as they herded the terrified children at gunpoint.

"The bandits were shouting: Go! Go! Go!" Abdullahi recalled, his voice trembling with the trauma of his ordeal.

As parents anxiously await news of their missing children, hope wanes amid the grim reality of Nigeria's escalating security crisis. Locals, already reeling from years of instability, grapple with the specter of violence that looms large over their communities.

"We are crying, looking for help from the government and God," lamented Lawan Yaro, whose five grandchildren were among the abducted. "But it is the gunmen that will decide to bring the children back."

Since the infamous abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok a decade ago, Nigeria has been plagued by a relentless wave of kidnappings, with thousands falling victim to the scourge of insecurity. Despite efforts to curb the crisis, the resilience of armed gangs, coupled with porous borders and rampant corruption, continues to fuel the cycle of violence.

In the face of adversity, the people of Kuriga cling to hope, seeking solace in the presence of security forces and the unwavering resolve of their community. Yet, as checkpoints dot the roads and soldiers patrol the streets, the road to recovery remains fraught with uncertainty.

"We hope for help from the government so that they will arrest the attackers," Rashidat implored, her voice echoing the collective plea of a community ravaged by tragedy. "We don’t have security — no soldier, no police."

In Kuriga, as in countless communities across Nigeria's northwest, the quest for peace and security remains elusive amidst the relentless tide of violence and despair.

-Ap