New school abduction deepens fears across Nigeria’s north - Here's why
New school abduction deepens fears across Nigeria’s north.
Gunmen have kidnapped students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, in a pre-dawn raid that adds to a devastating week of coordinated attacks across three northern states.
Police and the Niger State government confirmed the abductions but have yet to release the number of students taken.
Local reports say the attackers arrived in large numbers, riding motorcycles and a van, before storming the school and disappearing into the forest.
Arise News reported that 52 students may have been abducted, though authorities have not verified the figure.
School Ignored Closure Order, Says Niger Government
The Niger State government said St. Mary’s violated an instruction requiring boarding schools in high-risk areas to shut down following intelligence warnings.
Officials said the school remained open despite alerts pointing to a likely attack.
Security operatives are now combing surrounding forests in search of the abducted children.
A Week of Attacks Across Three States
The Papiri abduction is the third major attack in five days across Kebbi, Kwara and Niger — neighbouring states that have become hotspots for bandit movement.
Kebbi State:
On Monday, 25 schoolgirls were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga.
Kwara State:
On Tuesday night, gunmen attacked Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun in Eruku.
A church official told Reuters that 38 worshippers were taken, and the kidnappers have reportedly issued a ransom demand of ₦100m per victim.
The three states sit along a porous border corridor where armed gangs move easily between forests, using schools and rural churches as soft targets.
International Spotlight Reignites Debate
The attack comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of “fast” military action if Nigeria fails to address repeated killings of Christians.
Nigeria’s government dismissed his comments as a misrepresentation of the crisis, but the new abductions have added fuel to an already tense conversation.
Tinubu Cancels Foreign Trip Amid Rising Violence
President Bola Tinubu cancelled planned trips to South Africa and Angola following the wave of attacks.
He has also sent a high-level delegation, led by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, to Washington for meetings with U.S. lawmakers and officials.
The presidency says the mission is aimed at strengthening intelligence cooperation and updating the U.S. on Nigeria’s security operations.
Communities Terrified, Families Waiting, States on Edge
Niger, Kebbi and Kwara are now on high alert.
Parents are searching for answers.
Security forces are under pressure to show results.
Another school has fallen and the country is waiting to see if the children make it home.
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