Gunmen abducted a staggering 303 students and 12 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, north-central Nigeria, in one of the largest mass kidnappings in the country’s recent history. This attack occurred early on Friday morning, catching the school community and nation off guard amid growing insecurity in Nigeria. The victims range in age from 10 to 18 years old, and represent nearly half of the school’s student population.
Details of the Kidnapping Incident
The assault took place at approximately 2:00 a.m. local time on Friday, when armed gunmen stormed the boarding school while students were asleep in their dormitories. According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the figure of 303 students was updated after a thorough verification process, up from an initial estimate of 215. The abducted individuals include boys and girls, as well as 12 teachers (4 female and 8 male). Some students reportedly tried to flee but were captured by the attackers.
St Mary’s Catholic School, which also connects to a neighboring primary school, has over 50 buildings including classrooms and dormitories, and is situated near a main road linking Yelwa and Mokwa towns. The local community indicated that no official police or government security personnel were present at the school during the attack, relying instead on community security measures.
Growing Security Concerns and Government Response
This mass kidnapping comes amid a surge in violent criminal gangs targeting rural and educational institutions in northwest and central Nigeria. These gangs often operate with little opposition in areas with minimal state presence, conducting kidnappings for ransom and killing civilians.
Despite prior intelligence warnings about heightened threats, St Mary’s School resumed academic activities without proper notification or approval from the Niger State Government, something officials have criticized as putting students and staff at unnecessary risk. Niger State’s government responded by ordering the closure of all schools, while also mobilizing tactical teams along with local hunters to search for and rescue the abducted victims.
President Bola Tinubu canceled his planned attendance at the G20 summit in South Africa to focus on addressing the crisis. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is set to represent Nigeria at the summit instead.
Wider Context of School Attacks in Nigeria
This kidnapping follows an earlier incident in neighboring Kebbi State where 25 schoolgirls were abducted, with only one reported to have escaped so far. The total number of kidnapped students in this latest incident surpasses the number abducted during Nigeria’s notorious Chibok school kidnapping in 2014, underscoring the repeated vulnerability of educational institutions in the country.
The international community and local groups have expressed deep concern over the attacks, calling for increased security measures and urgent rescue efforts. Families and communities affected are demanding swift action and prayers for the safe return of their children and educators.
This tragic event marks a harrowing chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with armed banditry and insecurity, severely impacting the education sector and instilling fear in the population.
