Number of children abducted in Nigerian school attack raised to more than 300

Over 300 Students Abducted in Latest Nigerian School Kidnapping

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed that 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were kidnapped during an attack on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger state’s remote Papiri community. The updated figure, released Saturday, significantly increases the initial estimate of 215 students.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of CAN’s Niger state chapter, explained that the revised count followed “a verification exercise and a final census.” According to Yohanna, who visited the school Friday, an additional 88 students “were also captured after they tried to escape” during the attack. The abducted children range in age from 10 to 18 and include both boys and girls.

This kidnapping comes just four days after another school attack in neighboring Kebbi state, where 25 children were seized from Maga town, approximately 170 kilometers (106 miles) away. No group has claimed responsibility for either incident.

Nigerian authorities have deployed tactical squads alongside local hunters to rescue the children. However, coordination efforts appear strained as Yohanna disputed the state government’s claim that the school had ignored directives to close temporarily due to security threats.

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

In response to the kidnappings, Niger state Governor Umar Bago announced the immediate closure of all schools in the region. “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 in Niger state,” Bago told reporters Saturday after meeting with security officials in Minna.

School kidnappings have become a hallmark of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, with armed groups increasingly targeting educational institutions as “strategic” targets to maximize attention and leverage. UNICEF reported last year that only 37% of schools across ten conflict-affected states have early warning systems capable of detecting potential threats.

The kidnapping epidemic reflects broader security challenges in Africa’s most populous nation, where armed groups exploit institutional weaknesses and vast, poorly patrolled territories. The northern regions have been particularly vulnerable to such attacks, with schools becoming preferred targets due to the publicity and ransom potential they offer.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of international attention on Nigeria’s security situation. U.S. President Donald Trump recently made claims about targeted killings of Christians in the West African country. However, security experts emphasize that violence in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately. The earlier school attack in Kebbi state, for instance, took place in a predominantly Muslim community.

The kidnappings coincided with Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s visit to the United States, where he met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday. The timing underscores the urgency of Nigeria’s security challenges as the country seeks international support for counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping operations.

School abductions in Nigeria gained international attention in 2014 when Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from Chibok. Since then, various armed groups have adopted similar tactics, turning what was once shocking into a recurring crisis that has forced numerous school closures and disrupted education for thousands of Nigerian children.

As rescue operations continue, the incident highlights the ongoing vulnerability of educational institutions in northern Nigeria and raises further questions about the government’s ability to protect its youngest citizens.