Fresh school kidnappings deepen Nigeria’s security crisis

An unknown number of pupils have reportedly been abducted by armed men from a Catholic school in central Nigeria, in what has become the second school kidnapping reported in less than a week.

The latest attack occurred at St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State—an area already on edge following rising security threats that prompted authorities to order the temporary closure of all boarding schools across the state.

Despite these measures, gunmen breached the school premises in the early hours of Friday, according to BBC.

Niger State authorities reportedly confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway to determine how many pupils were taken.

“The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation,” officials said in a statement.

The Papiri attack comes on the heels of another abduction on Monday, when 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from a boarding school in neighbouring Kebbi State.

Both incidents form part of a renewed spike in school-targeted attacks by armed groups operating across northern and central Nigeria.

The surge in violence has intensified concerns over the country’s worsening insecurity and has forced President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned foreign trips to focus on the unfolding crisis.

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