Gunmen in Nigeria have abducted 227 students and teachers from a Catholic school in the northwest, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). This incident is part of a series of school attacks that have led to the closure of 47 colleges by the government.
The mass kidnapping that occurred on Friday in Niger state is the largest since the abduction of over 200 students in northern Kaduna state in March 2024. Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the CAN chairman in Niger, confirmed that 215 pupils and students, along with 12 teachers, were taken by the terrorists. Some students managed to escape, but specific details were not provided.
The security situation in Nigeria has come under intense scrutiny, especially after United States President Donald Trump’s warning of military action if the country does not address the persecution of Christians. Following Trump’s threat, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth held discussions with Nigeria’s national security adviser to address the issue of Christian persecution.
The Nigerian government denies Trump’s claims of persecution, stating that they are a misrepresentation. Security agencies are actively working to rescue the abducted individuals from the Catholic school in Niger state, with efforts focused on searching nearby forests.
Earlier in the week, 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kebbi state, and gunmen took 38 worshippers from a church in Kwara state, demanding a ransom of 100 million naira per individual. These attacks in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states have raised concerns about the safety of schools and religious institutions in the region.
As a result of these incidents, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu canceled his planned trips to South Africa and Angola to attend the G20 summit and the African Union-European Union summit. The government is facing pressure to address the escalating security challenges and protect its citizens from further attacks.
