In one of Nigeria’s worst mass abductions, gunmen kidnapped over 300 students from a Catholic school in Niger state, but 50 children have managed to escape and return to their families, while a massive search continues for the remaining captives.
Armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the village of Papiri, Niger state, in the early hours of Friday, abducting 303 children and 12 teachers. The attack is one of the largest school kidnappings in Nigeria’s history, surpassing the infamous 2014 Chibok abduction. Local authorities reported that the school had disregarded orders to close boarding facilities despite intelligence warnings of heightened attack risks, leaving students vulnerable to the coordinated assault.
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 50 of the abducted students escaped from their captors on Friday and Saturday and have been reunited with their parents. Bishop Bulus Bawa Yohanna, who heads the school, confirmed these details, describing the children’s brave and risky flight to freedom. However, police officials have yet to independently verify the escapes, adding to the confusion and anxiety among families awaiting news of their loved ones.
As of the latest reports, 253 pupils and 12 teachers remain missing, with a major military-led search and rescue operation underway across Niger state. Security forces, including police and local vigilantes, are combing nearby forests and remote routes believed to have been used by the gunmen. Distraught parents in Papiri express feelings of abandonment, as expected security deployments have not materialized in the village, exacerbating fears for the safety of the missing children.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has responded to the crisis by ordering the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers and redeploying VIP protection units to focus on core duties in vulnerable areas. He postponed foreign trips, including the G20 summit, to address the escalating security situation. These measures aim to bolster law enforcement in regions plagued by frequent attacks, though past efforts to curb kidnappings through ransom bans have had limited effect.
The Niger state kidnapping follows another incident in Kebbi state where 25 schoolchildren were abducted, and a separate attack in Kwara state where 38 worshippers were kidnapped but later freed by security forces. School kidnappings have become a grim norm in Nigeria, with over 1,500 students seized since the Chibok case, often for ransom by criminal gangs known locally as bandits. This pattern highlights systemic security failures and the economic motivations driving such crimes.
Pope Leo XIV appealed for the “immediate release” of the hostages, expressing deep sorrow for the victims and their anguished families. The event has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump previously designating Nigeria as a country of particular concern for Christian persecution, though the Nigerian government denies any religious bias, stating that terrorists target all faiths indiscriminately.
The abductions underscore severe security challenges in Nigeria, where criminal gangs and insurgents exploit vulnerabilities in remote areas. Authorities have ordered school closures in several states, disrupting education and deepening public anxiety. Moving forward, sustained reforms, improved intelligence, and international cooperation are crucial to protect civilians, restore stability, and prevent future tragedies in Africa’s most populous nation.
