No one was killed during the kidnapping, officials said.

Separatists in Cameroon have been pushing for English-speaking regions to secede for decades, arguing that they lack political clout in the government, which is centered in French-speaking areas. Their movement was largely peaceful until about a year ago when security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters.

Violence in English-speaking regions of Cameroon has killed more than 400 civilians and sent tens of thousands of people fleeing across the border into Nigeria or into the forest. An American missionary was recently caught up in the violence and shot to death as he rode in his car.

Cameroon’s security forces have been accused of a heavy-handed response to the rebels, who are disorganized and carry homemade weapons. The military has burned dozens of villages and fired large caliber weapons indiscriminately, killing bystanders, according to human rights groups and numerous citizens.

Separatists have been accused of killing soldiers and carrying out violence against regular citizens who don’t support their actions.

Students have been caught in the middle during the upheaval. Many haven’t been in school for more than two years.