Nigeria is grappling with one of its most severe mass kidnappings, as armed men abduct over 300 schoolchildren in Niger State, raising alarms about the deteriorating security situation in the country.
Nigeria is facing a crisis following one of the deadliest mass abductions in recent years. Armed men kidnapped more than 300 schoolchildren in Niger State on Friday, amplifying concerns about the worsening security landscape across the nation.
Initial reports indicated that approximately 227 students had been taken. However, on Saturday, the Christian Association of Nigeria revealed that the actual number was significantly higher. According to the association, 315 individuals were abducted from St. Mary’s Co-Education Catholic School, comprising 303 students and 12 teachers.
The association further disclosed that a verification exercise uncovered an additional 88 students who were captured while attempting to flee from the attackers. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.
This incident marks a second abduction in just a few days. Earlier, gunmen targeted a secondary school in Kebbi State, seizing 25 girls. Both kidnappings come in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats of military action in response to the killing of Christians by extremist groups in Nigeria. While the connection between these events remains unclear, the timing has heightened political and security anxieties.
The Nigerian government has yet to publicly confirm the total number of individuals abducted. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago stated that security agencies were still conducting a headcount and would release the final figures later in the day. In light of the escalating threat, Bago had previously ordered several schools to shut down due to security risks and has now mandated the closure of all schools in the state.
In response to the growing danger, Nigeria’s national education ministry has directed 47 boarding schools across the country to suspend operations until further notice. This decision reflects the urgent need to address the increasing violence targeting educational institutions.
As the crisis unfolds, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled upcoming international engagements, including his planned trip to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, in order to manage the emergency situation. The U.S. Pentagon has also weighed in, following discussions between U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu. The U.S. has urged Nigeria to take both urgent and lasting action to combat violence against Christians.
This latest kidnapping has revived painful memories of the infamous Chibok abductions in 2014, when Boko Haram militants kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls from Borno State. Many of those victims remain missing more than a decade later, underscoring the long-lasting impact of such tragedies.
Security analysts are warning that the recent surge in school kidnappings indicates a dangerous resurgence of armed criminal networks and extremist groups across northern and central Nigeria. As rescue efforts intensify, many Nigerians are left fearing that the country may be entering yet another prolonged cycle of violence targeting schools.
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