Nigeria: Over 300 Students and Teachers Kidnapped in Catholic School Raid, Pope Francis Appeals for Release
niger State, Nigeria – More than 300 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped early Friday morning from Saint Mary mixed school in niger state, approximately 600 km northwest of Abuja. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), citing Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora diocese Bulus dauwa Yohanna, reports the total number of those abducted now stands at 303 students and 12 teachers – nearly half the school’s 629 students.
The mass kidnapping follows a similar incident on Monday in the neighboring state of Kebbi, where 25 young girls were abducted from a high school, one of whom later escaped.
The Nigerian federal government has yet to officially confirm the number of those kidnapped. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago stated on Saturday that security forces are still verifying the figures and will release a final count by the end of the day. He has ordered the closure of all schools in his state, following similar decisions by authorities in Katsina and Plateau states. The Nigerian Ministry of Education has announced the closure of 47 federally-managed secondary schools, primarily in the north of the country.
President Bola Tinubu has canceled his international commitments, including attendance at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, to address the crisis.
The situation has drawn international attention. US Defense secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday urged Nigeria to “take urgent and lasting measures to end violence against Christians,” during discussions with Nigeria’s national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, according to the Pentagon. Former US President Donald trump recently accused the Nigerian government of “tolerating the murders of Christians” and threatened to halt aid or even intervene militarily to “annihilate Islamist terrorists,” a position praised by singer Nicki Minaj. Nigerian authorities maintain that violence from jihadist groups and criminal gangs affects both Christians and Muslims, who each comprise roughly half of the country’s population.
Pope Francis has issued a plea for the immediate release of the kidnapped students and teachers,expressing his concern for their safety and well-being. This latest incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the northwest region, where armed groups continue to target schools and civilians.