Over 300 Students and Teachers Abducted from Nigerian Catholic School

Gunmen abducted 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in Niger State's Papiri community, early Friday morning. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) updated the initial count of 215 students after a verification exercise. CAN's Niger State chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, stated that 88 additional students were captured while attempting to escape. The victims, aged 10 to 18, include both male and female students.

This incident follows the abduction of 25 schoolchildren in neighboring Kebbi State's Maga town four days prior. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack. Authorities have deployed tactical squads and local hunters to rescue the abducted individuals.

In response to the escalating security threats, Niger State Governor Umar Bago announced the closure of all schools in the state until further notice. He emphasized the decision aims to protect lives and property.

The Niger State government indicated that St. Mary's School had reopened without notifying or seeking clearance from the state, despite prior directives for schools in the area to close due to security concerns. CAN's chairman refuted this claim, stating that no such circular was received.

School kidnappings have become a significant security challenge in Nigeria, with armed groups targeting educational institutions to draw attention and demand ransoms. UNICEF reported that only 37% of schools across 10 conflict-affected states have early warning systems to detect threats.