Over 300 Children Abducted in Niger State Attack

ABUJA, Nigeria — The scale of the latest school kidnapping in Nigeria has grown even more alarming. The Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Niger State chapter, announced that 303 school children and 12 teachers were abducted by armed men during a violent raid on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State.

The updated figure, up from the earlier estimate of 215, followed a verification exercise and final census, according to the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN’s state chairman. Yohanna, who visited the school on Friday, revealed that an additional 88 students were captured while attempting to flee, bringing the total number of abducted children to more than 300.

The victims include boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18, many of whom were in the middle of morning classes when gunmen stormed the school.

A Disturbing Pattern of Targeted School Attacks

The abduction occurred just four days after 25 children were kidnapped under similar circumstances in Maga town, Kebbi State, a Muslim majority community located about 170 kilometers away.

No group has claimed responsibility, though such mass kidnappings are frequently carried out by criminal gangs commonly referred to as bandits. Authorities say tactical units and local hunters have been deployed in a search and rescue operation. Families, meanwhile, wait in anguish.

Disputed Claims and Community Outrage

The incident has sparked tension between school officials, religious leaders, and the Niger State government. Rev. Yohanna dismissed the government’s claim that the school had reopened despite earlier security directives advising temporary closures.

“We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame,” he said, urging families to remain calm and prayerful.

His comments underscore deep frustrations in communities that feel unprotected and under informed as insecurity worsens.

ALSO READ: Fear Rises as Over 300 Students Kidnapped in Nigeria

Why Schools Have Become Strategic Targets

School kidnappings have become a tragic hallmark of Nigeria’s security crisis. Armed groups seeking ransom payments or media attention increasingly view schools as soft and strategic targets.

Last year, UNICEF reported that only 37 percent of schools in 10 conflict affected states have early warning systems capable of detecting threats, a gap that leaves millions of children vulnerable.

Beyond the immediate trauma, such attacks contribute to long term educational disruption, pushing many families to withdraw children from school entirely.

Government Response All Schools Closed

In response to the attack, Niger State Governor Umar Bago announced the immediate closure of all schools across the state.

“It is the decision of stakeholders today to close all schools in Niger State. All schools are closed till further notice. So, we have declared Christmas holiday for all schools,” Bago told reporters after a high-level security meeting in Minna.

The shutdown aims to prevent further kidnappings, but it also raises pressing concerns about learning gaps, safety measures, and the state’s long term counter banditry strategy.

ALSO READ: Eruku CAC Attack: Church President Pays Sympathy Visit

International Context and Political Undercurrents

The kidnappings come at a time when US political discourse has reignited debates about violence in Nigeria. Former US President Donald Trump recently made claims about targeted killings of Christians in the country, assertions that security experts and local leaders say oversimplify a complex conflict that affects both Muslims and Christians.

The Kebbi State attack earlier in the week, occurring in a Muslim majority area, further shows the non-sectarian nature of these crimes.

Coincidentally, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu was meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington as the attack unfolded. While details of their discussion have not been publicized, the timing underscores the urgency of international cooperation in addressing security challenges in the region.

A Nation Searching for Solutions

As families pray for the safe return of their children, Nigerians once again confront the harsh reality of rising insecurity, limited surveillance capacity, and the increasing sophistication of criminal networks.

The abduction at St. Mary’s School is not just a national tragedy. It is a reminder that without decisive action, educational institutions will remain targets and millions of children will continue to live in fear.

 

 

Content Credit: Ohidah Oluwaferanmi

Image Credit: CBNews.com