Nigerians protest insecurity following kidnappings

Residents of Nigerian city of Damishi took to streets on Thursday to protest against lack of security and frequent kidnappings taking place in rrn Kaduna state.

small group of protesters blocked a street and chanted slogans demanding peace.

One of demonstrators reported that at least 16 people had been kidnapped previous day.

ir disappearance came two days after a group of gunmen stormed a local school and abducted 121 students.

demonstrator called on state's goverr to listen to worried residents like him and to act to bring peace and stability to Kaduna.

As protesters std ir rally, parents of some of kidnapped students gared at Bel Baptist High School.

y've been coming re since Monday, day ir children were abducted, to pray and demand justice.

A group of gunmen stormed school in middle of night, shooting sporadically as y kidnapped 121 students.

Two security guards lost ir lives while battling kidnappers, according to officials.

far of one missing girl gared at school on Thursday called on international community to help Nigeria's children.

He urged m to call on government to act because "we need our children back".

Tragically, school abductions have become a common occurrence in rrn Nigeria, where nearly 1,000 students have been kidnapped from schools since December.

principal of Prelude Comprehensive College in Kaduna city says security crisis has had a massive impact on pupils attending his school.

Many parents are withholding ir children from school out of fear something might happen to m, he said.

Missing class, however, means se children can't sit national exams needed to enter universities or polytechnic institutions, according to principal.

crisis is also affecting teaching staff, some of whom have been let go because of budget shortfalls caused by a reduced number of students.

spate of mass abductions from schools in Nigeria has grown significantly since 2014 when members of jihadi rebels Boko Haram abducted 276 female students in Chibok in Bor State.