Nigerian military chiefs met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Sunday following a surge in abductions targeting schools and places of worship.
The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers an updated figure from the earlier count of 215 children. Major General Waidi Shaib, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, confirmed that 50 of the children managed to escape and have since reunited with their families.
In a separate incident, armed men attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara state, on Tuesday, killing two worshippers and kidnapping 38 others. Shaib later announced that all 38 hostages had been freed and safely returned to their families.
The Niger school attack occurred just days after 25 pupils were abducted in Kebbi state’s Maga town, roughly 170 kilometers away. Shaib suggested that further updates from the region may follow.
No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Authorities say tactical units, supported by local hunters, have been deployed to aid rescue operations.
Mass abductions of schoolchildren have become a hallmark of Nigeria’s security crisis, with armed gangs increasingly targeting schools to draw attention. UNICEF noted last year that only 37% of schools in 10 conflict-affected states have early warning systems to detect threats.
The violence comes amid international concern, including claims by U.S. President Donald Trump of targeted attacks on Christians in Nigeria. However, analysts emphasize that both Christian and Muslim communities continue to suffer from widespread insecurity.
