More than 300 schoolchildren are believed to have been abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state on Friday, in what could be one of the largest mass kidnappings ever recorded in Nigeria. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School and seized 303 pupils along with 12 teachers of varying ages.
The abduction marks a grim escalation in a week punctuated by coordinated attacks across Nigeria targeting both Christian and Muslim communities. Earlier in the week, 25 Muslim schoolgirls were kidnapped in Kebbi state during an assault in which the school’s vice principal was killed. Local media also reported that 64 residents were taken from their homes in neighbouring Zamfara state.
Violence continued on Tuesday when a live-streamed attack captured a gunman opening fire inside the Christ Apostolic Church in Oke Isegun, Kwara state, killing two people and abducting more than 30 others. A church official told Reuters that the attackers were demanding ransoms of around $69,000 per person.
The surge in kidnappings comes just weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action against Nigeria over reports of attacks on Christian communities. The latest incidents are likely to increase pressure on Nigeria’s government and heighten scrutiny from Washington.
If confirmed, the kidnapping in Niger state would surpass the widely condemned 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok by Boko Haram, which sparked an international outcry.
Security analysts caution, however, that the motivations behind these recent attacks are not solely religious. A report issued last year by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies highlighted a steep rise in abductions carried out by loosely organised armed groups often referred to as “bandits.” The report noted that these groups increasingly favour mass kidnappings because they boost the likelihood of securing large ransom payments from authorities. Schools remain high-risk targets due to limited security.
Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman in Niger state, said his organisation was coordinating with authorities “to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely,” according to Reuters.
Parents and residents described widespread fear and shock. One mother, Dominic Adamu, whose daughters escaped the attack, told the BBC, “Everybody is weak… it took everybody by surprise.” Another woman whose six- and 13-year-old nieces were taken said, “I just want them to come home.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction in Niger state. Security forces have been deployed in the area as rescue efforts continue.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cancelled his planned attendance at the G20 Summit in South Africa following the spate of attacks. Addressing the violence earlier in the week, he said he was “fully apprised of the recent uptick in violent extremism” and had instructed security agencies to act with urgency and determination.
“I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls,” Tinubu said on X, directing security officials to ensure the safe return of the students abducted in Kebbi state.
