Over 200 Students Abducted in Nigeria Amid Rising School Attacks

Post by : Raina Nasser

In a distressing turn of events on Friday, armed assailants took more than 200 students from St. Mary’s Catholic School located in Papiri, Niger State, central Nigeria. The incident unfolded around 2:00 a.m. local time, targeting the boarding institution, defying government advisories recommending school closures due to escalating security threats. Additionally, 12 staff members were also taken during the raid.

This incident marks the second major kidnapping of the week in Nigeria. Just days prior, over 20 schoolgirls were seized from another boarding school in Kebbi State, situated in the northwest of the country. This area has experienced a notable increase in violent activities spearheaded by armed groups referred to as bandits, who frequently abduct children for ransom.

Residents in the Papiri area are filled with dread as families await updates regarding their missing children. A local parent, Dominic Adamu, whose daughters study at St. Mary’s, expressed, “The community feels weak… it was completely unexpected.” Another devastated relative lamented that her six- and thirteen-year-old nieces were among those taken.

Authorities from Niger State highlighted that the school had disregarded official directives mandating the closure of boarding facilities after receiving warnings about the high risk of kidnappings. The government criticized the institution for resuming classes without proper authorization, stating that this decision put both students and staff in jeopardy.

In response to the escalating security dilemma, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his international engagements, including attendance at this weekend’s G20 summit in South Africa. Local law enforcement and security forces are actively searching forests and surrounding regions in an effort to recover the kidnapped students.

These incidents are reflective of the wider security issues plaguing Nigeria, which encompass skirmishes between pastoralists and farmers, militant groups operating in the northeast, and recurrent kidnappings for ransom. While U.S. officials have voiced apprehensions regarding violence targeting Christians, the Nigerian government asserts that the attacks impact individuals of all faiths and are predominantly perpetuated by criminal organizations seeking financial gain.

Earlier this week, two girls abducted in Kebbi State managed to escape, while 23 remain unaccounted for. In a similar violent incident in Kwara State, two individuals were killed and 38 were kidnapped during an attack on a church. Reports suggest that the abductors have demanded ransom, although paying ransoms is officially prohibited to mitigate criminal activity.

The alarming trend has escalated fears across the nation, leaving parents, students, and communities anxious for the safe return of those taken.