In November, an armed group abducted 303 students and 12 staff members from St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution located in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria. The incident was one of several abductions targeting educational institutions in the region around that period. All individuals reported missing in connection with this event were subsequently rescued prior to the Christmas holiday.
Abduction Details
The abduction occurred on a Friday morning in November, around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT), when armed individuals entered the premises of St. Mary's boarding school in the remote Papiri community. Initial reports of the number of abducted individuals varied. However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) later confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken, totaling 315 individuals. This figure followed a verification process, with some reports indicating that an additional 88 students were captured while attempting to escape. The abducted students, male and female, ranged in age from 10 to 18.
The perpetrators were identified as an armed group, locally referred to as "bandits." The Nigerian government has officially categorized these criminal organizations as terrorist groups. No specific group publicly claimed responsibility for the abduction.
Rescue and Resolution
Following the abduction, Nigerian security agencies, tactical squads, and local hunters were deployed to conduct search operations in the surrounding forest areas. All 315 students and staff members abducted from St. Mary's School were rescued prior to the Christmas holiday. Official statements did not provide details regarding the methods used to secure their release, nor did they confirm whether any ransom payments were made. Nigerian law prohibits the payment of ransom to abductors.
Context and State Response
Authorities in Niger State had previously issued a directive mandating the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the region, citing increased security threats and intelligence warnings of potential attacks. State officials stated that St. Mary's School had not complied with this directive. However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) disputed claims from the state government regarding the school's reopening for studies, stating no circular on reopening had been received.
In response to the abductions and the escalating security situation, Niger State Governor Umar Bago announced the indefinite closure of all schools in the state after a meeting with security officials. Subsequently, public and private schools located in designated secure areas within Niger State were permitted to resume operations beginning January 12, following security assessments and consultations with relevant security agencies.
The incident at St. Mary's School occurred shortly after other security incidents in Nigeria. Days prior, approximately 25 schoolchildren were abducted from a boarding school in Maga town, Kebbi State. Another attack on a church in Kwara State resulted in two fatalities and 38 abductions.
Broader Security Challenges
Kidnapping for ransom by armed criminal groups, often identified as "bandits," represents a recurring security challenge in several parts of Nigeria, particularly in the north-central region. Schools and religious sites have frequently been targeted in these incidents. Data indicates that over 1,500 children have been abducted from schools in Nigeria since 2014, a period that includes the 2014 Chibok abduction involving 276 girls. UNICEF reported last year that only 37% of schools across 10 conflict-affected states possessed early warning systems to detect threats.
The central government has responded to the increasing insecurity by mandating the closure of over 40 federal colleges, and public schools in some states have also been shut down. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu postponed scheduled foreign trips, including participation in the G20 summit in South Africa, amid the escalating security situation. Around the time of the abductions, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a visit to the United States. Attacks and insecurity in Nigeria have impacted both Christian and Muslim communities.