More Than 200 Children Abducted in Armed Attack on Nigerian Catholic School

The outside of the school. Photo: saharareporters.com

PAPIRI — Gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community of Niger state early Friday, abducting more than 200 children in one of Nigeria’s largest school kidnappings in years, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Citing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the AP reports that the attackers seized 215 pupils along with 12 teachers, noting that parents and church leaders are working with authorities to secure their safe return.

Police confirmed the attack and said military units have been deployed to the area. St. Mary’s serves secondary-level students but is located next to a primary school complex, where younger children were also present. Locals reported that some children escaped, while many others were taken into surrounding forests.

The Niger state government said the abduction occurred despite prior intelligence warnings of increased threat levels, criticizing the school for reopening without official clearance. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora reported that a security guard was seriously wounded in the assault.

Friday’s mass kidnapping follows a series of attacks this week across northwestern and central Nigeria. On Monday, gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi state, and in a separate incident in Kwara state, two worshippers were killed and 38 others kidnapped from a church, with ransom demands reportedly issued.

The escalating violence prompted President Bola Tinubu to cancel his planned attendance at a G20 summit in South Africa. Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking during a visit to Kebbi earlier in the week, vowed that authorities would bring the abducted children home and prosecute those responsible.

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, but security analysts say armed groups — many comprised of former herders turned bandits — frequently target schools and remote communities for ransom. Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity: more than 1,500 students have been abducted since the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping by Boko Haram brought global attention to the crisis.

Residents and community leaders criticized the government for failing to prevent repeated attacks. Victims’ families described years of kidnappings with little police response, while civil society groups called for stronger school security and meaningful action to safeguard children.

“It’s as if they don’t care about the future of our children,” said Pastor Yohanna Buru, who leads a peace and reconciliation organization in Kaduna.

Previously, UOJ reported that, in Congo, ISIS Islamists killed 34 people in a Catholic church.

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