Gunmen attacked a Catholic institution in Niger, Nigeria, on Friday, kidnapping 303 school students and 12 teachers. The country’s Christian Association of Nigeria
नाइजीरिया के कैथोलिक स्कूल पर हमले में 300 से अधिक बच्चों और 12 शिक्षकों का अपहरण
The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that gunmen attacked a Catholic boarding school in Nigeria’s western region on Friday and abducted more than 200 schoolchildren. This is one of the largest kidnapping incidents in Africa’s most populous country. The attack and abduction took place at St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community of Agwara local government. Daniel Atori, spokesperson for the Christian Association of Canada’s Niger State chapter, said the attackers took 215 students and 12 teachers hostage.
Atorio Atori, quoting Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa, President of the Christian Association of Canada in Niger, said in a statement, “I have returned to the village after visiting the school last night, where I also met with parents.” The statement further stated that the association is working to ensure the safe return of our children.
Army and security forces deployed in the area
The Niger State Police Command said the abductions took place early in the morning and that military and security forces have been deployed in the area since then. He described St. Mary’s as a secondary school, which caters to children aged 12 to 17 in Nigeria. Satellite images show that the school complex is attached to a primary school, with over 50 classrooms and dormitories. It is located near a major road connecting the towns of Yelwa and Mokwa.
Attackers Held Children Hostage
Dauda Chekula, 62, said that the kidnapped schoolchildren included his four grandchildren, aged between 7 and 10. Chekula said, “We don’t know what’s happening right now because we haven’t heard anything since this morning. The children who managed to escape have scattered, some have fled back to their homes, and the only information we have is that the attackers are still taking the remaining children into the bush.”
Abductions Despite Prior Intelligence Warnings
A statement from the secretary of the Niger State government said that the kidnappings occurred despite prior intelligence warnings of increased threats. It states, “Unfortunately, St. Mary’s School resumed academic activities without informing or obtaining approval from the state government, exposing students and staff to unnecessary risk.”
A security guard was shot
Omar Yunus, a resident of Papiri, said that at the time of Friday’s attack, the school was only under local security, and no official police or government forces were deployed. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora said in a statement that a security guard was shot during the attack. Meanwhile, authorities have closed 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country, mostly located in conflict-affected northern states. According to a letter issued by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education, these are to be closed immediately.
A Spate of Kidnappings
These kidnappings come just days after gunmen attacked a high school in Maga, about 170 kilometers from Papiri, in neighboring Kebbi State, and abducted 25 schoolgirls on Monday. The school principal said one girl later escaped and is safe.
Gunmen attack a church
In a separate attack in Kwara State, bordering Niger State, gunmen attacked a church, killing two people. Femi Agbabiaka, secretary of the Christ Apostolic Church, told The Associated Press on Friday that 38 worshippers were also kidnapped during the attack. He said the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of 100 million naira (US$69,000) for each person.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has canceled his trip to the G-20 summit in South Africa this weekend due to recent events. The President’s office announced on Friday that Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent the president at the summit.
Kidnapping for ransom
Shettima, during a visit to Kebbi State on Wednesday, said, “We will make every effort within the state to bring these girls back home and ensure that the perpetrators of this atrocity are punished severely.” No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks in Niger and Kebbi states, but analysts and locals say gangs often target schools, travelers, and remote villages for ransom kidnappings.
Officials say the gunmen are mostly former herders who took up arms against farming communities following conflicts over resource scarcity. Kidnappings have become a hallmark of the widespread insecurity in Africa’s most populous country.
1,500 Students Abducted
At least 1,500 students have been kidnapped in the region since the 276 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram jihadist extremists more than a decade ago. However, bandits are also active in the region, and analysts say gangs often target schools to attract attention.
Nigeria recently made headlines when US President Donald Trump targeted the country, saying Christians were being persecuted, a claim the government denied. Analysts say Muslims are the majority of victims of armed groups in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority northern region, where most attacks occur School fence
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