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315 Students and Staff Abducted in Niger State School Raid
Gunmen stormed St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, early Friday, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers-nearly half the school's population-in what officials now call Nigeria's worst mass kidnapping since the 2014 Chibok abduction of 276 girls.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) revised the toll upward after verification, exceeding initial reports of 215 victims. Armed men breached the school around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT), targeting boarding students despite prior security warnings.
Families in Distress as Search Efforts Intensify
Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school but escaped abduction, described the community as "weak" and stunned. A woman interviewed by the BBC pleaded for the return of her nieces, aged six and 13: "I just want them to come home."
Police confirmed security forces are "combing the forests" to locate the hostages. Authorities in Niger state accused the school of ignoring an order to close boarding facilities amid intelligence of heightened attack risks, exposing students to "avoidable danger." The school has not responded to the claim.
Third School Attack in a Week Amid Rising Insecurity
Friday's abduction follows two other attacks this week: over 20 Muslim schoolgirls kidnapped in Kebbi state on Monday, and a church raid in Kwara state that left two dead and 38 abducted. The surge in violence has prompted President Bola Tinubu to cancel foreign trips, including the G20 summit in South Africa, to address the crisis.
The federal government ordered closures of 40+ federal colleges and some public schools, but public anger mounts over perceived inaction. Kidnappings for ransom by "bandit" gangs remain rampant despite a ban on ransom payments, which has failed to curb the practice.
Debate Over Religious Targeting Intensifies
The attack reignites claims by U.S. right-wing figures, including former President Donald Trump, that Nigerian Christians face systematic persecution. Trump vowed earlier this month to deploy troops "guns a-blazing" if Nigeria's government "continues to allow the killing of Christians."
Nigeria's government rejects such allegations, stating that jihadist groups-like Boko Haram, responsible for the 2014 Chibok abduction-target "all who reject their murderous ideology," regardless of faith. Analysts note that while northern Nigeria's majority-Muslim regions bear the brunt of Islamist violence, central clashes between Muslim herders and Christian farmers often stem from resource disputes, not religion.
"Terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology-Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike."
Nigerian government official
Chibok's Shadow Looms Large
The 2014 Chibok abduction, which sparked the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign and drew support from then-U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, remains unresolved. While many victims escaped or were freed, up to 100 girls are still missing. Friday's raid eclipses Chibok in scale, underscoring Nigeria's escalating security collapse.
