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Armed gunmen kidnapped dozens of students and staff from a Catholic school in Nigeria early Friday, marking the latest in a series of escalating attacks on Christian institutions across the West African nation.
The attack targeted St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community of Niger state’s Agwara local government area. According to local news outlet Arise TV, approximately 52 children were abducted, though official numbers remain unconfirmed. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora reported that a security staff member was “badly shot” during the assault.
Niger State Police Command confirmed that military and security forces have been deployed to the area where the attack occurred. The school educates students between the ages of 12 and 17.
In the aftermath of the attack, Niger state government secretary Abubakar Usman issued a statement condemning the abductions. Controversially, he claimed that St. Mary’s had reopened despite prior security intelligence warning of increased threats in the region.
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,” Usman’s statement read.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of attacks on educational and religious institutions in Nigeria. Just earlier this week, armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in neighboring Kebbi State, killing at least one staff member in the process. Search efforts for those abducted schoolgirls continue.
On Wednesday, gunmen stormed Christ Apostolic Church, killing two people and abducting the pastor along with 38 worshippers. Video footage verified by Reuters showed armed men entering the church and seizing worshippers’ belongings amid gunfire. Church officials later reported that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (approximately $69,000) per abducted worshipper.
The violence has drawn international attention to Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, particularly regarding religious persecution. U.S. President Donald Trump has officially designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” for the persecution of Christians, although Nigerian government officials have disputed this characterization.
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event focused on the violence in Nigeria, describing the killings of Christians there as “genocide wearing the mask of chaos.”
“Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time,” Waltz said during the event.
Rap artist Nicki Minaj, who has publicly supported the Trump administration’s efforts to address Christian persecution in Nigeria, also spoke at Waltz’s event. She expressed concern that “families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray.”
The latest attacks underscore the complex security challenges facing Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. The country has struggled with various armed groups, including Boko Haram and other extremist organizations in the north, as well as bandit gangs that engage in kidnapping for ransom.
Security experts point to a combination of factors fueling the crisis, including religious tensions, poverty, governance failures, and competition for resources in certain regions. The targeting of schools has become particularly concerning, as it disrupts education and creates long-term trauma for affected communities.
As search operations continue for the abducted students and staff from St. Mary’s School, the incident adds further urgency to calls for improved security measures to protect vulnerable institutions and communities across Nigeria.
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14 Comments
It’s heartbreaking to see children targeted in these attacks. I hope the authorities are able to swiftly locate and rescue the kidnapped students and staff. This type of violence against educational institutions is completely unacceptable.
I agree, the safety and well-being of students should be the top priority. The government needs to work closely with school administrators and local communities to strengthen security measures and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
What a horrific and traumatic experience for those students and staff. I hope the authorities are able to locate and safely return the kidnapped individuals. This type of violence against schools is unconscionable.
Kidnapping children is an unforgivable crime. I’m appalled that this attack targeted a Catholic school. The government needs to take urgent action to improve security and prevent such abductions from happening again.
Sadly, this is part of a troubling pattern of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria. The authorities must do more to address the underlying issues driving this violence and protect vulnerable populations.
This is a truly devastating incident. My heart goes out to the families of the kidnapped students and staff. I hope the authorities are able to swiftly locate and rescue the victims, and take decisive action to address the underlying security issues that allowed this attack to occur.
Kidnapping students from their school is a cowardly and inhumane act. I’m deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the abducted children and staff. The government must take immediate action to ensure their safe return and prevent such incidents from happening again.
Absolutely. The authorities need to work closely with the local community and educational institutions to bolster security and implement effective measures to protect students and teachers. No child should ever have to fear for their safety at school.
I’m curious to know more about the security intelligence that apparently warned of increased threats in the region prior to this attack. Why were those warnings not heeded, and what can be done to improve threat assessments and security protocols for schools in high-risk areas?
That’s a good question. It seems there may have been failures in acting on the prior security intelligence, which is deeply concerning. Improving coordination and information-sharing between authorities and educational institutions will be crucial to prevent such lapses in the future.
This is a tragic and disturbing incident. Students should never have to face such danger at their schools. I hope the authorities are able to locate and safely recover the kidnapped children and staff soon.
Agreed. The growing threat of violence against schools and educational institutions in Nigeria is deeply concerning. More must be done to protect students and teachers.
This is a horrific act of violence that no child should ever have to endure. I hope the authorities are able to safely recover the kidnapped individuals and bring the perpetrators to justice. Attacks on schools are a despicable violation of human rights.
This is a devastating incident that highlights the urgent need for better security and protection for schools in Nigeria. The government must take strong action to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safe return of the kidnapped individuals.