Nigeria's security situation continues to deteriorate as over 300 schoolchildren were kidnapped in a mass abduction that has sent shockwaves throughout the country. The attack on St Mary's co-educational school in Niger state occurred just days after gunmen stormed a secondary school in neighboring Kebbi state, abducting 25 girls.
According to Christian leaders, the number of students and teachers abducted at St Mary's has been verified, putting the total at 303 students and 12 educators. The attack is believed to be one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria, with nearly half of the school's student population taken by the gunmen.
The Nigerian government has remained tight-lipped on the matter, although state officials have confirmed that intelligence agencies are conducting head counts to assess the extent of the crisis. In response, schools across Niger and neighboring states have been shut down as a precautionary measure, with President Bola Tinubu even canceling international engagements to focus on resolving the situation.
The latest kidnapping follows a surge in attacks by heavily armed gangs in rural areas, which have killed thousands and conducted kidnappings for ransom over the years. Authorities are struggling to combat the bandit gangs, which have alliances with jihadists from the north-east, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation.
US officials have intervened, calling on the government to take urgent action to stop violence against Christians in Nigeria. The comments come after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over what he called the killing of Christians by radical Islamists in Nigeria.
The crisis has sparked widespread outrage and frustration among Nigerians, with many questioning the government's inability to protect citizens. "How can 300 students be taken away at the same time?" asked Stella Shaibu, a nurse who collected her daughter from school after it was shut down. "The government is not doing anything" to curb insecurity.
As the situation continues to unfold, authorities face an uphill battle in rescuing those kidnapped and bringing perpetrators to justice. The kidnappings have raised concerns about the safety of schools and communities across Nigeria, highlighting the need for urgent action from the government to address the root causes of the crisis.
According to Christian leaders, the number of students and teachers abducted at St Mary's has been verified, putting the total at 303 students and 12 educators. The attack is believed to be one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria, with nearly half of the school's student population taken by the gunmen.
The Nigerian government has remained tight-lipped on the matter, although state officials have confirmed that intelligence agencies are conducting head counts to assess the extent of the crisis. In response, schools across Niger and neighboring states have been shut down as a precautionary measure, with President Bola Tinubu even canceling international engagements to focus on resolving the situation.
The latest kidnapping follows a surge in attacks by heavily armed gangs in rural areas, which have killed thousands and conducted kidnappings for ransom over the years. Authorities are struggling to combat the bandit gangs, which have alliances with jihadists from the north-east, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation.
US officials have intervened, calling on the government to take urgent action to stop violence against Christians in Nigeria. The comments come after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over what he called the killing of Christians by radical Islamists in Nigeria.
The crisis has sparked widespread outrage and frustration among Nigerians, with many questioning the government's inability to protect citizens. "How can 300 students be taken away at the same time?" asked Stella Shaibu, a nurse who collected her daughter from school after it was shut down. "The government is not doing anything" to curb insecurity.
As the situation continues to unfold, authorities face an uphill battle in rescuing those kidnapped and bringing perpetrators to justice. The kidnappings have raised concerns about the safety of schools and communities across Nigeria, highlighting the need for urgent action from the government to address the root causes of the crisis.
. I totally agree that the gov't needs to step up its response, but at the same time, I think they're being super vague about the situation. 303 students taken? That's a huge number and it's just not right. The fact that schools have been shut down across Niger state as a precautionary measure is probably a good idea, but it feels like more needs to be done ASAP. We need to see some real action from the authorities to stop these gangs and bring back all those kids safely 
. And what's going on with the alliances between bandits and jihadists? That's just too much to handle. I'm not sure if military action is the answer, but we do need to see something done about this crisis soon.
this is so not right! 300+ kids taken away by gunmen? How can that happen in a country with such a huge population? I feel like it's every kid for themselves over there 
. The US stepping in is good tho, at least someone is listening 
. We need to see some serious action taken by Nigeria's authorities to stop this senseless violence and keep its citizens safe 
. And Stella Shaibu is totally right, the gov needs to step up their game and protect these kids! 
this is so disturbing... I mean, 303 kids taken by gunmen... it's like something straight outta a movie 
and not in a good way... you feel? and now schools are shutting down everywhere... what's going on? the gov't needs to step up their game ASAP 
and we need more support from international players too... US officials speaking out is a good start... maybe they can send some experts or something 
and find a way to stop these senseless kidnappings for ransom... 300 kids taken away from their families... it's just heartbreaking 
schools should be safe places, not war zones 
the gov't needs to step up their game and protect their citizens ASAP 
instead of just sitting around and letting this crisis escalate 
and our lives are just pieces on the board 
. It's just not fair that innocent kids like those at St Mary's school are being taken away by these ruthless gangs 
. We need to put pressure on the government to take concrete actions to stop this senseless violence and bring those responsible to justice 
. This is a national emergency, for crying out loud! We need the government to take decisive action and work with international partners like the US to tackle this crisis head-on 
i dont understand why goverment wont talk about it, they should be doing somethin to stop these kidnappings ASAP 
authorities r strugglin to combat bandit gangs, they need more help from goverment & international partners 
and not taking any real action. Can't believe they're letting this go on for so long 
. the goverment needs to do more than just talk about it, they need to take action 
what's going on in nigeria?! 
... & nigeria has such potential as a country 
but the insecurity is just getting out of control 
.
. According to reports, nearly 300 kids were taken from St Mary's school in Niger state - can you even imagine? 
.
. That's like, what, millions of kids' education fund per year? 
️ and not just sit back while ppl are being kidnapped left & right 
. Schools are shutting down left and right because of it, which is a total bummer for kids who need an education 
. It's not just about rescuing the kids, it's about making sure they can go to school without being kidnapped in the first place 
and now schools are shut down too...it's like the government is powerless 
. I'm all for the US officials intervening, but at what cost? 