Over 300 Students and Teachers Kidnapped in Major School Raid in Niger State, Nigeria

Daftar Isi

 

In a harrowing incident that has jolted both local and international communities, more than 300 students and dozens of teachers were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria. The attack occurred in the early hours of the morning, leaving many parents in a state of panic and distress.

School officials, together with church authorities, report that at least 315 individuals have been taken. The victims include students aged between 10 and 18, as well as several teachers who were present during the raid. The precise numbers are still being verified, following reports from families that some students have yet to be accounted for.

Eyewitnesses say that the armed assailants spent nearly three hours searching through dormitories, forcibly removing students one by one. After gathering their hostages, the kidnappers reportedly transported them deep into a nearby forest — a well-known hideout used by criminal groups in the region.

No group has officially claimed responsibility for the operation so far. However, security sources suspect that the perpetrators are members of a well-armed criminal gang that specializes in large-scale kidnappings for ransom. This method has become increasingly common in rural Nigeria.

In response to the attack, the Niger State government has temporarily shut down all schools and deployed military and tactical police units to the area. Law enforcement teams are now combing the forest and surrounding villages, while local authorities set up a crisis center to manage communication with frightened parents.

Civil society organizations have called out the government for neglecting school security in remote regions. Despite repeated warnings, many educational institutions lack basic safety infrastructure such as perimeter fences, surveillance, or trained security personnel. The recurring nature of such abductions has fueled growing public anger.

The kidnapping has drawn widespread condemnation from across Nigeria and beyond. The federal government has promised a full-scale effort to secure the release of all hostages and improve protective measures for students. As the crisis continues, many are calling for systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies from happening again.