Abduction of Schoolchildren in Niger State
A Catholic cleric has stated that Nigeria's government is making "no meaningful effort" to rescue over 250 children abducted from a Catholic boarding school in Niger state. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the main Catholic cleric in the region, conveyed this assessment to the BBC.
The state's police chief, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disputed Bishop Yohanna's accusation, stating that the school had not cooperated with search and rescue operations. The identity of the abductors from St Mary's school in Papiri village remains unclear, though criminal gangs have been linked to ransom kidnappings across Nigeria.
International Context and Government Response
The US Department of War indicated that US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth held discussions with Nigeria's National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu last week. The talks focused on "tangible progress on stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria and combatting West African jihadist terrorist groups." Nigeria's presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, reported that Ribadu's delegation refuted allegations of state-sanctioned religious persecution, attributing the security crisis to criminality, extremism, and land-related conflicts. Both governments agreed to establish a working group to enhance defense and security cooperation. Former US President Donald Trump had previously threatened military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to address the killing of Christians.
Details of Abductions and Rescue Efforts
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger state reported that 303 students and 12 staff members were abducted from the St Mary's school. Fifty children reportedly escaped and have since been reunited with their families. Bishop Yohanna, who also chairs the Niger chapter of CAN, stated that the only official action taken for the rescue involved compiling the names of the students. He also disputed claims made by Niger state Governor Umar Bago in local media, which suggested the church had ignored an order to close the school after threats of attacks, asserting that no such order was received.
Security Forces' Presence
Niger state police chief Adamu Abdullahi Elleman informed the BBC that sufficient officers had been deployed to Papiri. However, a BBC visit to the location observed only three officers at the school and a single police checkpoint approximately 60km away, with no armed personnel. The police commissioner maintained that a tactical police team and other security agencies were present in the community, with the Agwara town police headquarters serving as the operational base. He stated that search operations were ongoing but noted the school had not formally reported the incident to his command.
Broader Security Situation
The abduction at St Mary's school was the third such incident in Nigeria within a week. Previously, more than 20 schoolgirls were abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi state. Additionally, an attack on a church in Kwara state resulted in two fatalities and the abduction of dozens of worshippers.
President Bola Tinubu cancelled a trip to the G20 summit to address the crisis. He announced on Sunday that all 38 worshippers abducted in Kwara state had been rescued. President Tinubu stated, "Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety - and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people." The increasing number of abductions has led to the closure of many boarding schools across Nigeria, with authorities in Lagos bolstering security measures at schools, places of worship, and other key locations.