Nigeria's schools become latest targets in escalating kidnap crisis as 215 children taken in second mass abduction in a week.
In the past seven days, Nigeria has witnessed not one but two gruesome school abductions that have sent shockwaves across the nation. The most recent incident, which took place in the early hours of Friday, saw 215 students and 12 teachers abducted from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger state.
The latest kidnapping is a stark reminder of the escalating insecurity crisis that has gripped Nigeria in recent times. According to sources close to the government, gangs often target schools, travelers, and remote villages for ransom. The motive behind these heinous acts remains unclear, but analysts point to a growing trend of kidnappings carried out by former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities.
The Niger state government has described the incident as "disturbing news" and deployed military and security forces to the community. Dauda Chekula, whose four grandchildren were among those abducted, expressed his deep concern for their safety, stating that they had not heard from anyone since morning and were now scattered with some running back home.
This is the third documented mass school abduction in Niger state in the last decade, following a similar incident in May 2021 where 135 pupils were taken, resulting in six fatalities. The previous week saw another kidnapping in neighboring Kebbi state, where gunmen stormed a girls' boarding school, abducting 25 students and killing the vice-principal.
The US government has weighed into the crisis, classifying Nigeria as a country of particular concern due to severe violations of religious freedoms. President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene militarily if the Nigerian government fails to protect its Christian population, sparking a diplomatic row between Washington and Abuja.
However, Nigeria's government has denied claims of an anti-Christian genocide, insisting that victims of the attacks come from all faiths. The situation remains volatile, with security forces scrambling to respond to the latest incident and prevent further kidnappings.
In the past seven days, Nigeria has witnessed not one but two gruesome school abductions that have sent shockwaves across the nation. The most recent incident, which took place in the early hours of Friday, saw 215 students and 12 teachers abducted from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger state.
The latest kidnapping is a stark reminder of the escalating insecurity crisis that has gripped Nigeria in recent times. According to sources close to the government, gangs often target schools, travelers, and remote villages for ransom. The motive behind these heinous acts remains unclear, but analysts point to a growing trend of kidnappings carried out by former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities.
The Niger state government has described the incident as "disturbing news" and deployed military and security forces to the community. Dauda Chekula, whose four grandchildren were among those abducted, expressed his deep concern for their safety, stating that they had not heard from anyone since morning and were now scattered with some running back home.
This is the third documented mass school abduction in Niger state in the last decade, following a similar incident in May 2021 where 135 pupils were taken, resulting in six fatalities. The previous week saw another kidnapping in neighboring Kebbi state, where gunmen stormed a girls' boarding school, abducting 25 students and killing the vice-principal.
The US government has weighed into the crisis, classifying Nigeria as a country of particular concern due to severe violations of religious freedoms. President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene militarily if the Nigerian government fails to protect its Christian population, sparking a diplomatic row between Washington and Abuja.
However, Nigeria's government has denied claims of an anti-Christian genocide, insisting that victims of the attacks come from all faiths. The situation remains volatile, with security forces scrambling to respond to the latest incident and prevent further kidnappings.
it's like they're just targets for these gangs... people are saying it's because of herders turning to farming but honestly i don't know why anyone would do such a thing... the us gov has even threatened to intervene militarily if nigeria doesn't protect its citizens but like how can that even help... we need to find a way to stop this before more lives get lost 
and what's with the denials from nigeria's government about anti-Christian violence... it feels like they're trying to downplay it, but at the same time i don't think it's fair to just blame christianity for these attacks either... we need to have a serious talk about how to solve this crisis 
. 215 kids taken in one go? It's like they're targeting schools just 'cause they can, no regard for human life whatsoever 
. The Nigerian government needs to get its act together and find a solution to this, not just deploy troops everywhere like it's some game 
. And what's with the US government trying to get involved? Like, don't they have enough problems of their own? This is Niger's issue, let them handle it 
. We need to see real action from our leaders here, no more empty threats or promises 
. The kids are counting on us to make a change 
.
I feel so bad for the parents, especially Dauda Chekula, his four grandkids were taken away like that... 
How can this keep happening? 
It's like they're targeting schools as a way to get ransom or something. And don't even get me started on the US government getting involved and threatening military intervention... that's just gonna make things worse 
.
We can't just sit back and watch these kids get taken away from their families 
. It sounds like he's just trying to score some brownie points with his base before the election. And what's really going on in Niger state? Is it just random kidnappings or is there something more sinister at play? 
. The fact that it happened twice in one week is really scary... what if it happens again? I just want to hear from those 215 kids and their families, I wish them all the best 
it feels like they're being targeted on purpose you know? i mean we can't even agree on some stuff in our own country but when it comes to nigeria... 
. 215 kids taken away from their classrooms... it's like something out of a horror movie 
. And the worst part is, no one knows who's behind these attacks or what they want 
. The government needs to step up and do something about it, but I'm also worried about the US getting involved... it's like they're missing the point 
. And what's with all this talk of "genocide"? It's just so... sensationalized 
. Let's focus on finding solutions and supporting the Nigerian people instead of stirring up more drama 
. This is just too much 
that's just gonna make things worse, or so i think. don't get me wrong, i'm not saying Nigeria should just sit back and do nothing... but at what point do they need to ask for help from someone else? 
. It's like Nigeria's schools are becoming a target for ransom or something. I mean, I get that there's insecurity in the country and all, but come on! Can't these gangs just leave the kids alone?! 
this is just getting out of hand in nigeria. schools are supposed to be safe spaces for kids but now its a war zone. 215 kids taken is just staggering, i cant even begin to imagine how scared those parents must be. 