In Nigeria, over 300 children and staff were abducted from a Catholic school in a recent incident. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that gunmen kidnapped 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School in central Nigeria, contrary to earlier reports of 215 pupils taken. This abduction is part of a series of attacks by armed groups, locally known as bandits, who have been targeting individuals for ransom.
The armed men broke into the boarding school around 2:00 AM local time on Friday, taking both students and staff. Local authorities are currently conducting search operations in the forests to rescue the abducted individuals. Officials in Niger state claim that the school had disregarded warnings to close its boarding facilities due to increased security risks, potentially exposing the students and staff to unnecessary danger.
This mass abduction exceeds the infamous Chibok incident of 2014, which gained global attention and led to a widespread campaign, including support from former US First Lady Michelle Obama, to bring back the abducted girls. Recent assaults on schools in Nigeria include the kidnapping of more than 20 schoolgirls in Kebbi state and an attack on a church in Kwara state resulting in casualties and abductions. In response, the central government of Nigeria has ordered the closure of over 40 federal colleges in light of these incidents.
