In one of Nigeria's worst mass abductions in recent years, armed gunmen have kidnapped 315 students and teachers from a Catholic school in Niger state, with the final count revealing a significantly higher number than initially reported.
The Night of Terror
More than 300 children aged between 10 and 18 were taken during the brutal attack on St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri. The assault occurred at 2am local time on Friday, when armed men locally known as 'bandits' stormed the educational facility.
Initial estimates from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) suggested 215 children had been abducted, but this figure dramatically increased following what authorities described as a 'verification exercise and a final census'. The revised count confirmed 303 school children and 12 teachers were taken hostage.
Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman, revealed that approximately 88 additional pupils were 'also captured after they tried to escape' during the chaotic attack. The aftermath showed empty beds and personal belongings scattered across classroom floors, painting a haunting picture of the sudden disruption.
Community in Shock and Anger
Local residents expressed both shock and frustration at the security situation in Africa's most populous country. Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend St Mary's School but fortunately avoided abduction, told the BBC: 'Everybody is weak… it took everyone by surprise.'
'People are complaining about the state of security in our country,' he added, echoing sentiments shared by many in the community.
One distraught woman shared that her two nieces, aged just six and thirteen, were among those taken by the gunmen. 'I just wanted them to come home,' she pleaded, capturing the anguish felt by countless families.
Broader Context and Response
This devastating incident marks the second school attack within a single week, following the abduction of 25 children from a school in neighbouring Maga town in Kebbi state on Monday. The scale of this kidnapping rivals the infamous 2014 Chibok incident, where 276 school girls were taken by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.
Nigeria has struggled with school kidnappings throughout the past decade, with armed gangs frequently targeting educational institutions as strategic locations. According to UNICEF data from last year, only 37% of schools across ten conflict-affected states have early warning systems to detect potential threats.
In response to the crisis, Niger Governor Umar Bago announced the immediate closure of all schools across the state. 'It is the decision of stakeholders today to close all schools in Niger state. All schools are closed till further notice. So we have declared Christmas holiday for all schools in Niger state,' he stated.
Local authorities have deployed rescue squads and local hunters in efforts to locate and free the kidnapped children. Police confirmed that security agencies were 'combing the forests with a view to rescuing the abducted students'.
The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown, adding to the complexity of the situation and the challenges facing rescue operations.
