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Fifty schoolchildren escape after mass kidnapping in Nigeria's Niger State
Fifty of the 315 children abducted by armed gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria's Niger State on Friday have escaped, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The freed students have since been reunited with their families, while a military-led search continues for the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers still in captivity.
Widespread school closures and security overhaul
In response to the mass abduction-and a separate incident in Kebbi State on Monday, where 25 pupils were kidnapped-authorities in multiple Nigerian states, including Niger, Kebbi, Katsina, Yobe, and Kwara, ordered the closure of schools. President Bola Tinubu has directed the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers to bolster security.
Meanwhile, 38 individuals abducted from a church service in Kwara State last week were released on Sunday, as confirmed by the state governor. Two people were killed during the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku.
Parents express frustration as search intensifies
In Papiri, the village where the children were taken from St. Mary's School, parents of the missing students have voiced feelings of abandonment. Despite expectations that security forces would be deployed to the area following the attack, no such presence has materialized. The military, police, and local vigilantes are currently combing nearby forests and remote routes believed to have been used by the kidnappers.
Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school but were not abducted, told the BBC, "Everybody is weak... It took everybody by surprise." Another woman, whose nieces-aged six and 13-were among the kidnapped, tearfully pleaded, "I just want them to come home."
Government response and international concern
President Tinubu's office announced on Sunday that police officers previously assigned to VIP protection duties have been redeployed to focus on high-risk areas. VIPs requiring security will now need to request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Pope Leo XIV expressed "immense sadness" over the abductions and called for the swift release of the hostages. Meanwhile, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bongo declared the closure of all schools in the region, emphasizing that the crisis was "not a time for blame."
Allegations of security lapses
Authorities in Niger State claimed that St. Mary's School had ignored an order to shut down its boarding facilities after intelligence reports warned of heightened attack risks. The school has not responded to the allegations.
Broader context: Kidnapping crisis and regional tensions
The abduction surpasses the infamous 2014 Chibok mass kidnapping, where 276 schoolgirls were taken by Boko Haram. While many were later freed or escaped, up to 100 remain missing. Kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, locally referred to as bandits, has become endemic in parts of Nigeria, despite a government ban on ransom payments.
President Tinubu postponed international trips, including attendance at the G20 summit in South Africa, to address the escalating security crisis. The kidnappings have reignited debates over religious persecution in Nigeria, with some U.S. figures, including former President Donald Trump, claiming Christians are being systematically targeted. Nigerian officials reject this, stating that extremist groups attack individuals of all faiths.
Analysts weigh in on motivations
While jihadist violence in Nigeria's northeast has disproportionately affected Muslims due to the region's demographic composition, analysts note that clashes between Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farmers in central Nigeria often stem from disputes over land and resources rather than religious ideology.
"Terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology-Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike."
Nigerian government official
