Niger Catholic School Abductions: CAN Confirms 215 Students and 12 Teachers Kidnapped
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State has confirmed one of the largest school abductions in recent years, revealing that a total of 227 people, including 215 pupils and students as well as 12 teachers, were kidnapped during a violent attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Gurara Local Government Area.
The confirmation came from Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the CAN Chairman in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese. Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Dan Atori, he described the situation as deeply distressing and called for urgent intervention from both government and security agencies.
According to Yohanna, the attack occurred on Friday, November 21, 2025, when suspected terrorists stormed the school premises during academic hours. While some students managed to escape in the chaos, the majority were forcefully taken away. As panic spread, parents rushed to the school to pick up their children. The school has since been shut down indefinitely.
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Yohanna assured that CAN is already collaborating with government authorities, security operatives, and relevant stakeholders to secure the release of all abductees. He urged the community to remain calm, steadfast in prayer, and avoid actions that could endanger the victims or compromise ongoing rescue efforts.
Security sources confirm that operatives have been deployed into the surrounding forests and adjoining routes in a coordinated attempt to track the attackers. However, the scale of the abduction has raised troubling questions about the security of schools in northern Nigeria, renewing grim memories of the Chibok, Dapchi, and Kagara kidnappings.
Reactions from Nigerians have been emotional and intense. Many see the incident as part of a worsening security decline that the government has failed to contain. Online commentators expressed anger, sorrow, and frustration—arguing that the repeated mass abductions expose systemic weaknesses and political failings.
Some citizens believe the attackers are part of a broader network of extremist groups operating across the northern region, often labeled “bandits” despite their clear alignment with terror structures such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Ansaru. Critics argue that the refusal to classify them as terrorists creates room for ambiguity and insufficient response.
Others describe the tragedy as another painful reminder that children—symbolic of Nigeria’s future—remain the most vulnerable targets in a country grappling with violent extremism. Several commenters pointed out the disturbing frequency with which large groups of students are moved without interception, raising concerns about possible internal collaboration, delayed security response, or compromised military operations.
As the nation reels from this latest mass abduction, many parents in Niger State remain devastated, uncertain, and fearful. The trauma of waiting for news about their children weighs heavily on the community. Religious leaders continue to call for prayer, unity, and patience, while civil society organisations intensify pressure on authorities to act decisively.
For now, rescue efforts continue, and Nigeria watches anxiously—hoping that the 215 children and their 12 teachers will return safely, and that the nation’s long-running cycle of school abductions will one day come to an end.