In brief
In a shocking turn of events, more than 300 individuals, including students and staff, were abducted from St. Mary's School in Niger state, marking one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria's recent history. The Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken early Friday morning, significantly surpassing early estimates. This incident follows a series of attacks across the country, raising serious concerns about safety and security in Nigerian schools. Authorities are under pressure to enact stronger measures against the growing menace of armed groups preying on vulnerable communities.
More than 300 children and staff are now thought to have been kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in central Nigeria, making it one of the worst mass abductions the country has seen.
The Christian Association of Nigeria said 303 students and 12 teachers were taken from on St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state - substantially more than previously estimated.
It said the figures have been revised upwards after a verification exercise.
The kidnapping comes amid a surge of attacks by armed groups. The revised number of people taken surpasses the 276 abducted during the infamous Chibok mass abduction of 2014.
Local police reported that armed men stormed the school at around 02:00 local time on Friday morning, abducting students who were in the boarding facilities.
Parents and relatives expressed their distress over the incident, with one woman tearfully revealed that her young nieces had been kidnapped, adding: I just want them to come home.
Authorities and local police have launched searches in the nearby forests in hopes of rescuing the kidnapped individuals.
The situation has raised questions regarding the safety protocols of educational institutions in Nigeria, especially after the Nigerian government had ordered schools to close their boarding facilities due to intelligence alerts about the risks of attacks.
Over the past week, Nigeria has faced multiple incidents of mass kidnappings, with calls for more decisive actions from the government.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to address the growing security concerns, and there are widespread demands from the public for stronger measures to protect children and communities.
Addressing the international community's concerns, the Nigerian government has dismissed claims of systemic persecution, asserting that terrorists target all who oppose their ideology, irrespective of faith.
