Tragic Mass Abduction in Nigeria: Over 300 Students and Teachers Kidnapped

Sat Dec 20 2025 15:47:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a brutal attack, over 300 individuals were abducted from St Mary's School in Niger State, marking one of Nigeria's worst mass kidnappings. As the country grapples with escalating violence, the distressing incident highlights significant concerns over security in educational institutions.

More than 300 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped from St Mary's School in Niger State, Nigeria, in one of the country’s most devastating mass abductions to date. The attack reflects a growing trend of violent assaults on schools in Nigeria, prompting calls for urgent action to protect children and communities amid ongoing insecurity.

More than 300 children and staff are now thought to have been kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in central Nigeria, making it one of the worst mass abductions the country has seen.

The Christian Association of Nigeria said 303 students and 12 teachers were taken from St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state - substantially more than previously estimated.

It said the figures have been revised upwards after a verification exercise.

The kidnapping comes amid a surge of attacks by armed groups. The revised number of people taken surpasses the 276 abducted during the infamous Chibok mass abduction of 2014.

Local police said armed men stormed the school at around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Friday morning, abducting students who were staying there.

Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school but were not taken, told the BBC: Everybody is weak... it took everybody by surprise.

One distressed woman tearfully told the BBC that her nieces, aged six and 13, had been kidnapped, adding: I just want them to come home.

Authorities have launched a security operation to locate the abducted individuals, as concerns mount over the safety of schools in the region amid increasing violence.

Reports suggest the school disregarded an official order to close boarding facilities due to warnings of heightened security risks, a decision that has drawn criticism from authorities.

The mass abduction was the third attack in Nigeria within a week, as the rise in kidnappings for ransom continues to torment many communities, prompting a demand for stronger protective measures from the government.