A group of armed men kidnapped 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 update came after a verification process and final headcount conducted by Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the chairman of the association’s Niger state chapter, who visited the school recently. Additionally, 88 students were also taken captive when they attempted to flee during the attack, with the students ranging in age from 10 to 18 and comprising both genders.
The abduction at St. Mary’s School in the remote Papiri community of Niger state occurred shortly after a similar incident in Maga town, Kebbi state, where 25 students were seized just four days earlier, despite the towns being 170 kilometers apart. No group has claimed responsibility for these kidnappings, prompting authorities to deploy tactical squads and local hunters to rescue the abducted children.
Yohanna refuted claims by the state government that the school had reopened for classes following an initial directive to temporarily close schools in that region due to security concerns. Dismissing the assertion as unfounded, he urged families to remain composed and rely on prayer during these challenging times.
School abductions have become emblematic of the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria, with armed groups targeting educational institutions as a means to attract attention. UNICEF highlighted last year that only 37 percent of schools in ten conflict-affected states have early warning systems to identify potential threats.
These abductions coincide with allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump of targeted attacks against Christians in Nigeria, although violence in the country affects individuals from both Christian and Muslim communities. Notably, the recent school attack in Kebbi state occurred in a town with a Muslim-majority population.
The incident unfolded as Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited the United States, meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.