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Nigerian families await news of 300 kidnapped schoolgirls

  • Father Aliyu Ladan Jangebe, whose four daughters are among more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, waits for news in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    APTOPIX Nigeria School Attack

    Father Aliyu Ladan Jangebe, whose four daughters are among more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, waits for news in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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  • From left, Kabiru Abdullahi Dangebe, who has five daughters missing, Isah Sulaiman, whose daughter is missing, Ismail Ladan, whose daughter is missing, and Luman Bala, whose younger sister is missing, wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    APTOPIX Nigeria School Attack

    From left, Kabiru Abdullahi Dangebe, who has five daughters missing, Isah Sulaiman, whose daughter is missing, Ismail Ladan, whose daughter is missing, and Luman Bala, whose younger sister is missing, wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Zubairu Sanusi, a chemistry teacher and father of two kidnapped girls at the boarding school where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, speaks to The Associated Press in the town of in Jangebe, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    APTOPIX Nigeria School Attack

    Zubairu Sanusi, a chemistry teacher and father of two kidnapped girls at the boarding school where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, speaks to The Associated Press in the town of in Jangebe, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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  • Security forces guard the Government Girls Junior Secondary School where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Security forces guard the Government Girls Junior Secondary School where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Parents of missing schoolgirls wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Parents of missing schoolgirls wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Security forces guard the Government Girls Junior Secondary School where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Security forces guard the Government Girls Junior Secondary School where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Parents of missing schoolgirls wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Parents of missing schoolgirls wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, from where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday at the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, from where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday at the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Father Kabiru Sani Jangebe, who has three daughters amongst the more than 300 girls abducted from their boarding school on Friday, waits for news at the school in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Father Kabiru Sani Jangebe, who has three daughters amongst the more than 300 girls abducted from their boarding school on Friday, waits for news at the school in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • This Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 photo shows the Government Girls Junior Secondary School from where more than 300 girls were abducted on Friday by gunmen, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    This Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 photo shows the Government Girls Junior Secondary School from where more than 300 girls were abducted on Friday by gunmen, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A sign pointos to the Government Girls Junior Secondary School from where more than 300 girls were abducted on Friday by gunmen, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    A sign pointos to the Government Girls Junior Secondary School from where more than 300 girls were abducted on Friday by gunmen, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, Nigeria, where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
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    Nigeria School Attack

    Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, Nigeria, where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
Father Aliyu Ladan Jangebe, whose four daughters are among more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, waits for news in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
From left, Kabiru Abdullahi Dangebe, who has five daughters missing, Isah Sulaiman, whose daughter is missing, Ismail Ladan, whose daughter is missing, and Luman Bala, whose younger sister is missing, wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Zubairu Sanusi, a chemistry teacher and father of two kidnapped girls at the boarding school where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, speaks to The Associated Press in the town of in Jangebe, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Security forces guard the Government Girls Junior Secondary School where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Parents of missing schoolgirls wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Security forces guard the Government Girls Junior Secondary School where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Parents of missing schoolgirls wait for news of the more than 300 girls who were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. Families in Nigeria waited anxiously on Sunday for news of their abducted daughters, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of school students in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, from where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday at the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Father Kabiru Sani Jangebe, who has three daughters amongst the more than 300 girls abducted from their boarding school on Friday, waits for news at the school in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
This Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 photo shows the Government Girls Junior Secondary School from where more than 300 girls were abducted on Friday by gunmen, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
A sign pointos to the Government Girls Junior Secondary School from where more than 300 girls were abducted on Friday by gunmen, in Jangebe town, Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
Children play and sell small foodstuffs on the street in the town of Jangebe, Nigeria, where more than 300 girls were abducted by gunmen on Friday from the the Government Girls Junior Secondary School, in Zamfara state, northern Nigeria Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Nigerian police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the more than 300 girls who were kidnapped from the boarding school, according to a police spokesman. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Mansur)
IBRAHIM MANSUR
·3 min read

JANGEBE, Nigeria (AP) — Families in Nigeria waited anxiously for news of their abducted daughters after more than 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by gunmen from a government school in the country's north last week, the latest in a series of mass school kidnappings in the West African nation.

Worried parents on Sunday gathered at the school, guarded by police. Aliyu Ladan Jangebe said his five daughters aged between 12 and 16 were at the school when the kidnappers stormed in. Four were taken away but one escaped by hiding in a bathroom with three other girls, he told The Associated Press.

“We are not in (a) good mood because when you have five children and you are able to secure (just) one. We only thank God ... But we are not happy,” said Jangebe.

“We cannot imagine their situation,” he said of his missing daughters. Residents of a nearby village said the kidnappers had herded the girls through the town like animals, he said.

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One resident said the gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from responding to the mass abduction.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said the government’s priority is to get all the hostages returned safe and unharmed. Police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the girls, said Mohammed Shehu, a police spokesman in Zamfara state.

The girls’ abduction has caused international outrage.