Sat Nov 22 09:52:32 UTC 2025: Summary:
Gunmen abducted 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria, on Friday. This incident follows a similar abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State earlier in the week, one of whom later escaped. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack. Authorities have deployed tactical squads and local hunters to rescue the children. The Niger State government claims the school reopened without clearance, increasing the risk to students and staff. President Tinubu cancelled his trip to the G20 summit in South Africa due to the abductions. The incidents occur amidst heightened security concerns and debates surrounding the targeting of Christians in Nigeria.
News Article:
Hundreds of Students Abducted in Nigeria as Security Fears Escalate
Papiri, Nigeria – In a devastating blow to the country’s education system, 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria, on Friday, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). This mass kidnapping follows a similar incident earlier in the week in neighboring Kebbi State, where 25 schoolgirls were abducted. One girl managed to escape, leaving 24 still missing.
Authorities have launched a rescue operation, deploying tactical squads alongside local hunters to locate and retrieve the abducted children. No group has claimed responsibility for either incident.
“We don’t know what is happening now, because we have not heard anything since this morning,” said Dauda Chekula, whose four grandchildren, aged seven to 10, were among those abducted. “The children who were able to escape have scattered … and the only information we are getting is that the attackers are still moving with the remaining children into the bush.”
The Niger State government has stated that the school reopened without proper authorization, putting the students and staff at “avoidable risk.”
President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa in response to the abductions, with Vice President Kashim Shettima attending in his place.
These kidnappings occur against a backdrop of rising security concerns in Nigeria and a growing international debate over the targeting of Christians, a narrative disputed by the Nigerian government, which maintains that Muslims are the majority victims of attacks.
First Piper 