More Than 300 Students Kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Niger State — One of Nigeria’s Largest School Abductions

Armed assailants attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the Papiri community of Niger state on Friday, abducting hundreds of pupils and staff in one of the country’s largest recorded school kidnappings.

Local and church sources say 303 pupils and 12 teachers — both male and female and of varying ages — were taken, according to a statement from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The mass abduction follows a week of violent incidents across multiple states that targeted both Christian and Muslim communities.

Earlier in the week, 25 Muslim schoolgirls were reported kidnapped in Kebbi state during an attack that left the vice-principal dead, and some 64 people were seized in separate incidents in Zamfara state. A livestreamed attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in Oke Isegun, Kwara State, reportedly left two dead and more than 30 people missing; a church official said kidnappers demanded roughly $69,000 per person in ransom.

Motives and wider context

Experts say the motives for the recent spate of kidnappings are complex and not always sectarian. A report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies documented a sharp increase in abductions by criminal gangs — locally called "bandits" — who in many cases have shifted toward large-scale kidnappings because they increase the chance of substantial ransom payments. Schools are often targeted because they typically lack strong security.

“We are working with the government and security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely,” said Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman in Niger state.

Relatives and community members expressed shock and anguish. One parent said the attack took everyone by surprise; another, whose nieces aged six and 13 were among those taken, said simply: "I just want them to come home." No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

Government response and international attention

Security forces have been deployed to the area as search and rescue operations continue. Niger state Governor Umaru Bago announced the immediate closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state until further notice. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu canceled plans to attend the G20 summit and said he had directed security agencies to respond urgently and decisively to the recent rise in violent extremism.

The attacks have drawn international attention and debate. In recent weeks, former U.S. President Donald Trump warned of possible U.S. action and indicated he could withhold aid if attacks on Christians persisted. Nigerian officials rejected the idea that such comments reflect the country's full reality. Observers note that while jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and IS-affiliated networks operate in Nigeria, aggregate data show that violence affects both Muslim and Christian communities, with some reports indicating more Muslim victims overall.

The crisis has also attracted statements from public figures and civil-society groups calling for urgent action and the protection of schools. Authorities say they are pursuing multiple avenues — security operations, local collaboration and negotiations where appropriate — to secure the safe return of the kidnapped students and staff.

As search efforts continue, officials stressed the importance of community cooperation and information-sharing to help locate the abducted children and hold perpetrators accountable.