Gunmen have abducted 303 children and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School in Nigeria, marking a significant and alarming escalation in attacks on educational institutions. The attack, which occurred at a Catholic school, has sparked international concerns and prompted calls for increased security and intervention.
According to initial reports, the number of kidnapped children rose from 52 to over 200 before the final count was confirmed. Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), confirmed the total number of kidnapped children after a verification exercise. The students involved ranged in age from 10 to 18. Authorities have stated that tactical squads and local hunters are working to rescue the kidnapped children.
The attack follows a similar incident earlier this week in which armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the country a ‘country of particular concern.’ However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.’s claims. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz highlighted the ongoing violence in Nigeria, calling the killings of Christians ‘genocide wearing the mask of chaos.’ He was joined by rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who called for religious freedom for all.
The Nigerian state government claimed that St. Mary’s School reopened despite warnings of increased threats. However, Yohanna denied this claim, stating it was an attempt to shift blame. The attack has drawn global attention and intensified calls for international intervention in the region.