The Documentary Podcast Reporting the Nigerian school kidnappings
Dec 6, 2025
Madina Maishanu, a senior BBC Africa journalist, shares her gripping firsthand experiences covering the Papiri school kidnappings in Nigeria, revealing the dangerous conditions faced by reporters and the distress of parents seeking clarity. Zlata Onufrieva and Olga Prosvirova dive into the tragic case of Aishat Baimuradova, the first Chechen woman in exile killed outside Russia, discussing the chilling implications for Chechen women and the heightened fear among exiles. Together, they shed light on the human stories behind the headlines.
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Dangerous Journey To Papiri
- The BBC team faced dangerous travel, detours, and even water routes to reach Papiri safely.
- They travelled with a security truck and kept protective gear on, fearing they might not return home.
Ungoverned Areas Fuel Kidnap Risk
- Papiri sits in a remote, under-policed part of Niger State that residents feel abandoned by.
- Chronic insecurity and poor state presence make the area a repeated hotspot for kidnappings for ransom.
Parents Fear Retaliation
- Parents begged Medina to keep their identities secret because they feared retaliation by the gunmen.
- One father followed her to the car pleading she not expose him after witnessing the abduction on motorcycles.