Nigeria Sees One of Worst Mass Abductions as 315 Taken from Catholic School

Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria — In one of the most horrific mass abductions Nigeria has experienced, more than 300 people—303 students and 12 teachers—were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, early on Friday morning. This incident is now regarded as one of the worst of its kind in the country’s history, surpassing the infamous Chibok abduction of 2014, where 276 girls were taken by Boko Haram.

The attack occurred at approximately 2:00 AM local time when heavily armed men stormed the school, which was home to many students staying overnight. The attackers, believed to be part of a growing network of criminal gangs, abducted students and staff without warning, sparking widespread outrage.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the updated figures, initially reported as 215, after a verification process. The scale of the abduction shocked the community, with nearly half of the school’s student population now unaccounted for.

A Shocking Night for the Community

Dominic Adamu, a father whose daughters attend the school but were not taken, described the atmosphere of panic and confusion: “Everybody is weak… it took everybody by surprise.” Another distraught relative, speaking to the BBC, shared her grief, explaining that her two nieces—aged 6 and 13—had been abducted. “I just want them to come home,” she tearfully pleaded.

As local police and security forces continue to search the surrounding forests for the kidnapped students, the region is gripped by fear. Schools across Niger State were ordered to close on Saturday in response to the attack.

Ignored Warnings: Was the School at Fault?

The attack has prompted renewed scrutiny of the school’s management. Authorities revealed that St. Mary’s School had failed to comply with an earlier directive to close its boarding facilities, following intelligence warnings of an increased risk of attacks by armed groups. Local officials have stated that this decision placed the students and staff in “avoidable risk.” The school has not yet commented on these claims, but the decision to keep the facilities open in such dangerous conditions is under intense review.

Niger State officials have expressed deep concern that these incidents are part of a growing wave of insecurity in northern Nigeria. “We were aware of the threat,” one local official said. “But this tragedy could have been avoided.”

The Growing Threat of Armed Gangs

The mass abduction is part of a broader security crisis in Nigeria, where armed groups—often referred to as “bandits”—have been carrying out similar attacks across the country. These groups are primarily motivated by ransom demands, with abductions becoming a lucrative form of extortion. Despite the Nigerian government’s attempts to curb ransom payments, the situation continues to worsen, with authorities struggling to stem the tide of violence.

This kidnapping marks the third such mass abduction in Nigeria in just one week. Earlier in the week, more than 20 schoolgirls were abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State, while another attack in Kwara State led to the abduction of 38 churchgoers and the deaths of two individuals.

A Nation in Crisis

The frequency and scale of such attacks are fueling public outrage and concern. In response to the mass abductions, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu postponed his planned foreign trip, including his attendance at the G20 summit in South Africa, to focus on the escalating security crisis at home. The government is under increasing pressure to protect children, students, and local communities from these devastating attacks.

“It is a national emergency,” said one local resident. “We cannot continue to live in fear. Our children are not safe.”

The Global Perspective

The kidnappings have drawn international attention, with foreign figures, including former US President Donald Trump, making statements about the situation. Trump’s recent comments, alleging that Christians are being systematically persecuted in Nigeria, have sparked political debate. The Nigerian government has rejected these claims, stating that the violence is not religiously motivated but rather the result of criminal gangs targeting anyone who opposes their ideology, regardless of religion.

While the government denies that Christians are being specifically targeted, the abduction of Christian students has raised alarm among many religious communities, both within Nigeria and abroad. The issue of security, particularly in the northern and central regions of Nigeria, remains deeply contentious.

Echoes of the Chibok Abduction

The scale and brutality of this latest attack echo the 2014 Chibok abduction, when Boko Haram militants took 276 girls from their school. The Chibok incident sparked global outrage and led to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, with interventions from international figures, including then-US First Lady Michelle Obama. While many of the Chibok girls have since escaped or been freed, nearly 100 remain missing.

The ongoing kidnappings in Nigeria highlight the country’s continued vulnerability to armed violence and extremism, despite years of international attention. While the government’s response to these incidents has been criticized for its lack of effectiveness, it is clear that the situation has reached a crisis point.

What’s Next for Nigeria?

As the search for the kidnapped students continues, there is growing pressure on the Nigerian government to take stronger action to secure schools and protect vulnerable populations. This mass abduction, alongside the ongoing violence from criminal gangs, represents a severe challenge to the country’s stability and security.

For now, the families of the abducted students are left in limbo, desperately waiting for their loved ones to return home. As Nigeria grapples with this crisis, the international community is closely watching, with many calling for more robust intervention to help curb the rise of violence and abductions in the country.