Nigeria is reeling after one of the largest school abductions in the nation’s history, as more than 300 children and staff were taken by armed men from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State.
The Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped from St Mary’s School in Papiri. The updated numbers came after officials completed a detailed verification of those missing. The scale of the attack surpasses the 2014 Chibok school abduction, which had long stood as one of the darkest moments in the country’s history.
According to local authorities, the attackers stormed the school around 2:00am on Friday, seizing students who were sleeping on the premises. Families have been left devastated, many clinging to hope as rescue efforts continue.
Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school, described the shock gripping the community. “Everybody is weak… it took everybody by surprise,” he said. Another distraught woman shared that her nieces—just six and thirteen years old—were among those taken. “I just want them to come home,” she pleaded.
Security operatives are combing nearby forests in an effort to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims. In response, all schools in Niger State have been ordered to shut down.
Authorities revealed that the school had been previously instructed to close its boarding facilities due to intelligence pointing to increased risks of attacks. They say the decision to remain open exposed both students and staff to danger, though the school has not responded to the claim.
Kidnappings for ransom by armed groups—often referred to as bandits—remain a persistent threat across several parts of Nigeria. While ransom payments have been outlawed, the measure has done little to deter the criminal networks responsible for these attacks.
This latest abduction is the third major attack on educational and religious institutions within one week. In Kebbi State, more than 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped earlier in the week. In Kwara State, a church attack left two people dead and dozens abducted.
The rising insecurity has intensified frustration among Nigerians, many of whom are demanding stronger protection for children, schools, and communities. The urgency of the situation also led President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned foreign trips so he could directly address the growing crisis.
The tragedy unfolds amid international debates about religious persecution in Nigeria. Some political figures abroad have alleged that Christians are being specifically targeted, but Nigerian authorities insist that attacks cut across religious lines. They emphasise that criminal groups and extremist militants target Muslims, Christians, and others alike—motivated by ideology, revenge, or competition over resources rather than religion alone.
Northern Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, and farmer–herder conflicts, each contributing to a complex and long-standing security challenge. The memory of the 2014 Chibok abduction still lingers, with around 100 girls still unaccounted for more than a decade later.
As communities wait anxiously for news, the nation hopes that the children and staff of St Mary’s School will be safely returned.