More than 300 children and staff are now thought to have been kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in central Nigeria, making it one of the worst mass abductions the country has seen.
The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken from St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state – a figure significantly higher than previously estimated.
Local police confirmed armed men stormed the school in the early hours of Friday, adding to a troubling trend of violence in the region where criminal gangs, often referred to as bandits, have increased their attacks.
This incident surpasses the infamous Chibok kidnappings of 2014, where a total of 276 schoolgirls were abducted. The current figures suggest a deeply concerning rise in the number of people being targeted for ransom.
Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school, emphasized the shock felt by the community, stating, Everybody is weak... it took everybody by surprise. Families of the abducted children are desperate for their safe return, highlighting the emotional toll such incidents have on communities.
Niger state's authorities have noted that the school had ignored warnings to close boarding facilities, increasing the risk to students. This has sparked a broader outcry for enhanced security measures as the government faces mounting pressure to act against rising insecurity.
The kidnapping has evoked fears of escalating violence, particularly as it aligns with a significant uptick in similar incidents across Nigeria, leading President Bola Tinubu to postpone international trips to focus on security concerns.
Officials are actively searching the surrounding areas for the abducted individuals, but as reports of further attacks come in, citizens remain anxious and frustrated with the government's inability to protect children and safeguard communities.
