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Dozens feared abducted in Niger state school raid
An unknown number of students and staff were seized by armed assailants during an early-morning attack on St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, marking the second mass school abduction in Nigeria this week. Local sources suggest nearly 100 individuals may have been taken, though officials have yet to confirm exact figures.
The raid occurred around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Friday, with gunmen-locally referred to as "bandits"-storming the school's hostel. Authorities had previously ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the region due to escalating security threats, but St Mary's reportedly reopened without clearance, according to a state government statement.
Families in distress as searches continue
Residents described scenes of panic and despair as families awaited news of their loved ones. Dominic Adamu, a local whose daughters attend the school but were not abducted, told the BBC, "Everybody is weak... it took everybody by surprise." Another woman, in tears, revealed her two nieces-aged six and 13-were among the missing, pleading, "I just want them to come home."
Police confirmed security forces were "combing the forests" in an effort to locate and rescue the victims. The school, which serves both boys and girls, has not issued a public response.
Wave of violence across Nigeria
The attack follows Monday's abduction of over 20 Muslim schoolgirls from a boarding school in neighboring Kebbi state, where two individuals were killed. Two of the kidnapped girls later escaped, while 23 remain missing. Separately, a church in Kwara state was targeted during an online service, leaving two dead and 38 abducted. Kidnappers in that case have reportedly demanded ransom, despite a national ban on such payments intended to starve criminal gangs of funding.
Nigeria's overlapping security crises include jihadist insurgencies in the northeast, farmer-herder clashes in central regions, and rampant kidnappings for ransom. While President Bola Tinubu canceled international trips to address the surge in violence, analysts note that attacks often stem from resource disputes-such as land or water-rather than religious motivations alone. Government officials have rejected claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Christians face targeted persecution, asserting that "terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology-Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike."
Broader context: A nation under siege
With a population of 220 million split nearly evenly between Muslims and Christians, Nigeria's security challenges span geographic and sectarian lines. The latest abductions underscore the persistence of criminal gangs operating with near-impunity, despite government countermeasures. Authorities in Niger state emphasized that St Mary's School had ignored warnings, exposing students to "avoidable risk."
"Supplies of security have failed us. People are complaining about the state of security in our country."
Dominic Adamu, local resident
