A large-scale abduction has struck a school in central Nigeria, marking the second such incident within a week. Armed assailants seized 215 students and 12 teachers from a Catholic educational institution in Niger State during the early hours of Friday.
Local authorities confirmed the attack and stated that security forces have been deployed to the area. A community member reported that four of his grandchildren, all under the age of ten, were among those taken. According to his account, some children managed to flee as the gunmen moved the remaining captives into a nearby forested area.
This event follows a similar attack earlier in the week in neighboring Kebbi State, where gunmen abducted 25 girls from a boarding school. In that incident, security personnel were reported to have left their post shortly before the assault began.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest kidnapping. Analysts frequently note that criminal gangs in the region often target schools and villages for kidnappings, seeking ransom payments. These armed groups are frequently described as originating from communities of former herders involved in conflicts with farming populations over land and resources.
Nigeria faces significant security challenges across its central and northern regions, with kidnappings representing one facet of a broader crisis. Just days ago, a separate extremist faction claimed responsibility for the death of a senior military officer in the northeast. Additionally, an attack on a church in a nearby state earlier this week resulted in dozens of worshippers being taken captive, with kidnappers subsequently issuing a substantial ransom demand.
The frequency of these attacks has intensified scrutiny on the national government’s security measures. The situation has also drawn international attention and commentary regarding religious tensions within the country, though Nigerian officials consistently state that victims of such violence come from all faith backgrounds.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the country’s president has reportedly altered his international travel schedule. The focus remains on ongoing rescue operations and the urgent search for the missing students and teachers.