Gunmen kidnapped 303 children and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School in Nigeria in an attack that has shocked the nation and drawn global attention. The incident, which initially reported lower numbers, was later confirmed to involve over 300 students ages 10-18 and 12 educators. The Nigerian government denied claims that the school had reopened despite warnings of heightened threats, while international figures like President Donald Trump and rap artist Nicki Minaj have spoken out against the violence against Christians in Nigeria.
According to reports from The Associated Press, the attack at St. Mary’s School was marked by the kidnapping of a significant number of children, with the total confirmed to be 303. The initial reports had suggested a lower number of victims, but a verification exercise revealed the true scale of the tragedy. Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), confirmed the figures with a statement, stating that the count was determined after a final census. The victims, comprising both male and female students, were aged between 10 and 18, highlighting the vulnerability of young individuals in the attack.
The violence at St. Mary’s School is not an isolated incident. It follows a similar abduction of 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State, where at least one staffer was killed. The search for the abducted schoolgirls is still underway, indicating the broader context of ongoing threats targeting educational institutions and Christians in the region. The Nigerian government has denied the claims that the school had reopened, arguing that it was an attempt to shift responsibility and blame. The situation has escalated the urgency for security measures and protection of the educational sector in the country.
Internationally, the incident has drawn the attention of prominent figures such as President Donald Trump, who has declared Nigeria a