Sat Nov 22 10:32:12 UTC 2025: Summary:
A mass school abduction has occurred in Nigeria, marking the second incident in a week. Gunmen seized 315 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Niger state on November 21, 2025. This follows the abduction of 25 girls from a secondary school in Kebbi state on November 17, 2025. The Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed the numbers after verification. Authorities have ordered school closures in several states as a precaution, and President Tinubu has cancelled international engagements to address the crisis. This wave of abductions follows a church attack that killed two and threatens military action from U.S. President Trump. The situation evokes memories of the Chibok kidnapping by Boko Haram. Criminal gangs operating in rural areas are responsible for these attacks, often motivated by ransom.
News Article:
Mass Abduction in Nigeria: Hundreds of Students and Teachers Seized
Lagos, Nigeria – November 22, 2025 – Nigeria is grappling with a major security crisis following the mass abduction of 315 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community, Niger state. The incident, which occurred on November 21, marks the second major school abduction in Nigeria within a week.
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the victims include 303 students and 12 teachers. This abduction comes days after 25 girls were kidnapped from a secondary school in neighboring Kebbi state on November 17.
Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora diocese, said that additional students had been captured after attempting to escape, raising the total number of abducted persons.
The Nigerian government has yet to officially comment on the number of students and teachers abducted. However, authorities in Katsina and Plateau states have ordered school closures as a precautionary measure. President Bola Tinubu has cancelled international engagements, including attendance at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, to focus on the crisis.
The recent kidnappings follow an attack on a church in western Nigeria, where gunmen killed two people. The events have sparked international concern, especially in light of threats from U.S. President Donald Trump over attacks on Christians by radical Islamists.
Nigeria has struggled with security challenges on multiple fronts, including banditry and jihadist activity. Criminal gangs operating in the northwest and central regions of the country often conduct kidnappings for ransom. Though primarily motivated by financial gain, the bandits’ increasing alliance with jihadist groups is a growing concern.
The incident highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Nigerian schools and communities to criminal and extremist elements, bringing back painful memories of the Chibok kidnapping by Boko Haram over a decade ago.
First Piper 