A group of gunmen abducted a total of 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger state, north-central Nigeria, as reported by the Christian Association of Nigeria. This figure was updated from the initial count of 215 students following a verification exercise and a thorough census conducted by the Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the chairman of the association’s Niger state chapter. During the attack, an additional 88 students were also captured as they attempted to flee. The students, both male and female, were between the ages of 10 and 18.
This incident occurred in the remote Papiri community of Niger state, just four days after a similar kidnapping of 25 students in Maga town, Kebbi state, which is located 170 kilometers away. No group has claimed responsibility for these abductions, and efforts are underway with tactical squads and local hunters to rescue the abducted children.
The claim by the state government that the school had reopened for studies despite security threats was refuted by Yohanna, who emphasized that there was no official notification regarding the reopening. He urged families to stay calm and continue praying during this challenging time. School abductions have become a troubling trend in Nigeria, with armed gangs targeting educational institutions as a means to attract attention.
Recent reports from UNICEF revealed that only 37 percent of schools in conflict-affected regions have early warning systems in place to detect potential threats. It is important to note that attacks in Nigeria impact both Christians and Muslims. The school kidnapping in Kebbi state, which has a Muslim-majority population, underscores the indiscriminate nature of these violent incidents.
The abductions coincided with a visit by Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to the United States, where he engaged with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. This alarming event highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by Nigeria and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of students and educators across the country.
