Nigeria reels after second mass school abduction in a week
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Over 215 children and 12 teachers were kidnapped in central Nigeria, the second mass abduction in a week, as tensions escalate with Washington over claims of a “Christian genocide.”
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The dormitories where gunmen kidnapped school children are seen in Kebbi, Nigeria, on November 17, 2025. (AP)
Nigeria is grappling with a new wave of shock and grief after 215 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in central Niger state, marking the second such mass kidnapping in less than a week.
The attack comes amid rising political pressure from Washington, where United States President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention over what he calls a “Christian genocide,” an accusation Nigeria firmly rejects.
Another devastating attack in Niger state
The abduction took place in the early hours of Friday in Papiri community, Niger state, where gunmen stormed St Mary’s School in Agwara local government area.
“The Niger state government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news,” said state government secretary Abubakar Usman, as security forces moved into the area.
Survivors described chaos as children fled into the surrounding bushland. Local resident Dauda Chekula said four of his grandchildren, aged seven to ten, were among those taken.
“The children who were able to escape have scattered… the attackers are still moving with the remaining children into the bush,” he told AP.
Niger state, a frequent target of armed gangs, has witnessed several large-scale school kidnappings in recent years. The last major incident, with 135 pupils abducted in 2021, left six children dead in captivity.
Read more: 600 Nigerian children dead due to malnutrition amid foreign aid cuts
A week of escalating violence
Friday’s mass abduction followed Monday’s attack on a girls’ boarding school in neighbouring Kebbi state, where 25 students were kidnapped and the vice-principal was killed. Security forces had reportedly guarded the school overnight before leaving shortly before the assault. President Bola Tinubu ordered a top defense official to relocate to the state to oversee rescue operations.
Nigeria has been facing overlapping security crises, from extremist groups in the northeast to ransom-driven bandits across central and northern regions. On Monday, the African ISIS claimed responsibility for killing a senior Nigerian military general in Borno, releasing a video of the attack. In another incident this week, gunmen abducted 38 worshipers during a live-streamed church service in Kwara state, later demanding a ransom of 100 million naira (around $68,000) per victim.
US pressure grows over ‘Christian Genocide’ claims
The surge in violence has intensified threats from the Trump administration, which has placed Nigeria on its “country of particular concern” list and accused Abuja of failing to protect Christian communities. US lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, have amplified claims of a “Christian genocide,” while Trump warned that US forces could go “guns-a-blazing” into Nigeria if necessary.
Jonathan Pratt of the US Bureau of African Affairs told Congress that militant groups are “deliberately targeting Christian communities” across Nigeria, remarks likely to further strain ties.
Nigeria’s government has strongly rejected the accusations, arguing that victims come from all religious backgrounds and describing external claims of genocide as politically motivated.
Diplomatic fallout looms
As tensions grow, President Tinubu canceled planned trips to South Africa and Angola for the upcoming G20 and AU-EU summits, citing the deteriorating domestic security situation and mounting international pressure.
With no group claiming responsibility for the latest kidnappings, authorities say the attackers are likely “bandit” militias, often former herders who turned to armed violence amid disputes over land and resources.
Read more: Nigeria rejects Trump religious persecution claims, cites constitution
