French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Sunday that France will deepen its partnership with Nigeria. This announcement follows a direct request from President Bola Tinubu. The move comes as the West African nation faces a sharp deterioration in internal security, particularly across its northern regions.
Strengthening Ties Amid Crisis
Speaking on Sunday evening, Macron conveyed France’s solidarity with Nigeria. He confirmed that the decision to bolster ties was made specifically in response to Tinubu’s appeal for cooperation to tackle the escalating violence.
The security situation has reached alarming levels recently. Over the past two weeks alone, at least 400 people have been abducted. Schoolchildren currently make up a significant portion of these victims.
Recent Abductions and Releases
On Monday, reports emerged that 100 students had been freed. These students were originally abducted on November 21 from a Catholic school in the western part of the country.
While many of these kidnapping incidents have not been claimed by any specific group, the region is also struggling with terrorism. The Islamist militia Boko Haram remains particularly active in the north, compounding the insecurity caused by criminal gangs.
International Scrutiny
The crisis has attracted high-level international attention. US President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention, citing the specific targeting of Christians. However, the violence affects a broad demographic; adults and children attending Muslim schools and mosques are also frequently targeted in these mass abductions.
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