Father recalls helplessness as mass Nigerian school kidnapping unfolds
Father recalls helplessness as mass Nigerian school kidnapping unfolds
Gunmen on motorbikes abduct dozens of students from a Catholic boarding school in Niger state, with 50 escaping, prompting scrutiny over security and accountability.
A father, identified here as Theo for safety, says he woke to the sound of gunmen riding past his home on around 50 motorcycles as they abducted dozens of children from St Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri village, Niger state. Theo, whose son was a pupil at the school, described how the children were forced to walk with their captors, some falling and being kicked back to their feet. He said he could only listen and call the police, but by the time responders arrived the abduction was largely over. The father’s account adds a human layer to a night of fear that has gripped communities across the region.
CAN, the Christian Association of Nigeria, says 303 students and 12 staff members were abducted, while 50 children managed to escape and have been reunited with their families. The school is run by Bishop Bulus Bawa Yohanna, who has released a list of those abducted to aid rescue efforts. Police have offered a more cautious public tally, with authorities insisting the figure is not yet confirmed and that only a few students may have escaped on the night of the raid.
Governor Umar Bago has challenged the CAN figure, saying the number is exaggerated and far below 303. He criticized the decision to keep the school open four years after threats by unknown gunmen, arguing that local authorities should have closed the facility earlier. The governor also pointed to broader concerns about security and district preparedness in the area, while insisting that the attack was not the disaster some fear, but a tragedy that underscores the need for better oversight and protection for students.
The attack comes amid a broader pattern of violence and kidnap-for-ransom incidents in the region, underscoring persistent risks to education and civilian safety. Families continue to await updates as security forces coordinate through the night to locate the abducted and determine who orchestrated the raid.
Cover image source: Pope urges release of 315 seized in Nigerian mass school kidnapping 🔗
