Angry students have taken to the streets in France to show their anger over the French education system.

The demonstrations started earlier this week in Paris before spreading across the country. Students say they are protesting over a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, unsafe environments, and run-down buildings.

According to reports, much of the protest has been violent. Videos shared on social media showed young residents setting vehicles and bins on fire in multiple locations.

Another video showed a group of masked people, some of whom weree dressed all in black, attacking a fire engine outside Lycee Saint-Expury, a school in France’s second largest city.

In some cases, residents were attacked. A video showed a hooded individual spraying what appears to be a makeshift aerosol flamethrower at a woman’s face, before walking away.

The French education ministry said the protests happened at more than 560 schools on Friday.

Earlier, the ministry said 400 of the country’s 3,700 high schools were expected to be closed.

Gerald Darmanin, justice minister, said about 2,000 people have been arrested since the protests began.

“We’re not entirely sure that they are even high school students themselves,” Darmanin said.

The minister added that two-thirds of the 2,000 people arrested since protests began have been placed in police custody.

Troops of the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, of the Nigerian Army have raided and destroyed a terrorist camp in Abator, Ogbaru LGA of Anambra state, recovering weapons and ammunition.

In a statement issued on Friday, the army said the operation was conducted alongside the Anambra vigilance group, following the rescue of three kidnap victims and the arrest of a suspected kidnapper who led troops to the camp.

“Following the abduction of three persons around Osakwa General Area in Ihiala Local Government Area, troops of Operation UDO KA, working with the Anambra Vigilante Group, conducted a rescue operation and successfully recovered the victims,” the statement reads.

“On 1 October 2026, troops subsequently conducted a snap operation and arrested one of the suspected kidnappers, identified as Mr Sunday Obi. During interrogation, the suspect provided information that led troops to the location of the syndicate’s camp at Abator in Ogbaru Local Government Area, across the Isieke waterside.

“Acting on the intelligence, combined troops launched an operation to the identified location, employing canoes to cross the waterways and access the terrorist hideout.

“On reaching the area, troops engaged the terrorists with overwhelming firepower, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds.”

The army said troops recovered two AK-47 rifles with magazines, three pump-action guns, three locally fabricated Dane guns, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 149 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

Two cartridges and materials suspected to be intended for the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also recovered.

The statement said troops recovered items used for the group’s operational and logistical activities, including a solar generator, a power bank, a car battery, two motorcycle batteries, two solar panels and two mobile phones.

The army said the recovery exposed the logistical infrastructure supporting terrorist and kidnapping activities in the area and provided additional intelligence for ongoing efforts to dismantle the wider network.

“The Nigerian Army, through Operation UDO KA, will sustain coordinated kinetic and intelligence-driven operations to dismantle terrorist enclaves, disrupt their logistics and supply chains and deny criminal elements safe havens across the South East,” the statement reads.

“Follow-up operations are underway to apprehend fleeing terrorists, their collaborators, logistics suppliers and other facilitators while troops continue to work with relevant security agencies and local stakeholders to strengthen security and safeguard communities.”

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the leadership crisis rocking the ranks of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has deepened in the North-East, with governorship candidates in the region rejecting former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as the party’s zonal leader.

The Adamawa State governorship candidates said they do not recognise Lawal in the position and have dissociated themselves from any statements, directives or meetings he may undertake in that capacity.

The candidates said the role of a zonal leader requires broad consultation and recognition by party stakeholders across the region.

They maintained that Lawal was not mandated to speak for them, issue directives, convene meetings or represent their collective interests.

The latest position comes days after six NDC governorship candidates from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe rejected Lawal’s appointment, alleging that they were not consulted before the decision was taken.

The candidates are now calling on the national leadership of the party to engage relevant stakeholders in the North-East and resolve the leadership question ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Lawal, however, has defended his emergence, saying his appointment was made by the national leadership of the NDC.