Mass Abduction Reported in Niger State
On Friday morning, an armed group abducted an estimated 315 individuals, comprising students and staff, from St. Mary's School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria. This incident represents one of the largest mass abductions recorded in the country.
Incident Details
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken, following an upward revision of initial estimates after a verification process. The event occurred around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) when armed individuals reportedly entered the boarding school premises. The revised number of abducted individuals exceeds the 276 taken during the 2014 Chibok incident.
Local police confirmed the attack and stated that security agencies are conducting search operations in surrounding forest areas to locate the abducted individuals. A parent whose daughters attend the school but were not abducted stated, "Everybody is weak... it took everybody by surprise." A woman reported that her nieces, aged six and 13, were among those taken, expressing a desire for their return.
Context and Government Response
Authorities in Niger State indicated that the school had not complied with a prior directive to close all boarding facilities. This directive was issued following intelligence warnings of an elevated risk of attacks. State officials issued a statement asserting that this non-compliance exposed pupils and staff to "avoidable risk." The school has not issued a public statement regarding this claim.
This abduction marks the third such attack in Nigeria within a week. Prior incidents include the abduction of over 20 schoolgirls from a boarding school in Kebbi State and an attack on a church in Kwara State, which resulted in two fatalities and 38 abductions.
The kidnapping of individuals for ransom by criminal groups, locally identified as "bandits," is a recurring security challenge in several parts of Nigeria. Legislation enacted to prohibit ransom payments, intended to cut off funding for these groups, has not demonstrably reduced the frequency of these incidents.
In response to the escalating security situation, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has postponed scheduled foreign trips, including participation in the G20 summit in South Africa. The central government has mandated the closure of over 40 federal colleges, and public schools in some states have also been shut down. The increasing insecurity has resulted in public demands for enhanced security measures to protect communities and educational institutions.