Over 300 Schoolchildren Abducted in Nigeria's Niger State
Gunmen abducted 315 individuals, including 303 students and 12 teachers, from St Mary's co-education school in Niger state, Nigeria, on Friday. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that the number increased from an initial estimate of 227 after a verification exercise revealed additional captives. The Nigerian government has not confirmed the figures, but the abductions represent nearly half of the school's total student population of 629. In response, Niger state governor Mohammed Umar Bago ordered the closure of all schools in the state, while the national education ministry shut down 47 boarding secondary schools nationwide. President Bola Tinubu has cancelled international engagements to address the crisis. This incident follows another abduction of 25 girls from a secondary school in Kebbi state. No group has claimed responsibility for these kidnappings.
Published 12 days ago • 22 Nov 2025, 07:30 PM IST