Nov 27, 2025
3 min read
The gunman's attack on a Catholic school in Nigeria comes amid a rise in kidnappings by armed groups.
“I know how they got my son the gun.
- Author, Madina Maishanu
- Author title, Africa
The abduction of tens of thousands of children from a Catholic boarding school in Nigeria has left the parents of teenage girls devastated as armed men watch helplessly as their children are taken away.
Theo told her that last Friday he was awakened by the sound of armed men as they passed his house with the children they had taken from the St.Mary's School in the village of Papiri, Niger State.
"They were led on foot while shepherds controlled their flocks. Some children fell and the men kicked them and ordered them to get up," he said.
The father, whose real name has been withheld for his own safety, said: "The gunmen had about 50 motorcycles that they took over.
Speaking in the bedroom where his son was, Theo said he was powerless to prevent the abduction.
"I want to go help, but I think it's better. Even if you call, the workers arrive late.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CNA) reported that 303 students and 12 workers from the school were abducted while 50 minors were rescued and reunited with their families.
The school is run by the president of the ACN Niger section, Bishop Bolus Bawa Johanna, who shared the school with the list of abductees.
However, police said they only knew that few children were missing on the night of the abduction.
Governor Gover's Umar Bago told the Media that the number of enrolled students is "well, usually" more than 303.
He accused school authorities of opening the center despite threats from unknown gunmen four years and two months ago.
"The school in this area has been closed for four years."I knew the school was open," said Bago.
He also claimed that the attack was just a 'threat' and that all students would be rescued soon.
"The government is not assigned"
Bishop Yohanna said security forces have not been deployed in the community since the kidnapping.
Together with other parents, Theo camped outside the school, angry at the government's lack of response.
"They kidnapped our children, but the government doesn't seem to care!" said Theo.
He was disappointed that the president did not visit the school but went to neighboring communities to talk to local security forces and leaders.
"We came to the conclusion that the government doesn't care about us, we feel that we don't belong to the state, so they left us."
The pain of the parents of the children who are still missing is palpable.One mother said, "I am sad, my whole life is full of sadness."Whose son was one of the kidnapped children.
"He is my only son, he is my firstborn, help us!" he asked.
Another father, Lucas, said two of his sons had been kidnapped, but the youngest, a 6-year-old boy, was lucky to escape the kidnappers' hands.
He recalled: "When I saw him, I was so happy, I called his name and he turned and ran to me and came close to him."
The northern part of Niger, where Papiri is located, has recently become a hotspot for kidnappings for ransom.
Such ransom payments have been banned in an attempt to cut off the money supply to criminal gangs, but to little effect.
The team traveled about 500 kilometers to Papiri from Mina, the capital of Niger State, due to several danger warnings on certain routes.During some sections, the police accompanied the team.
Many blame the current crisis on the size of the state.In terms of area, it is the largest state in Nigeria and larger than European countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands.
There are also many forests that criminal gangs use as camps and corridors to connect with other states in Nigeria and neighboring countries.
The kidnapping at Papiri school is the third in Nigeria in a week.
Last Monday, more than 20 students, believed to be Muslims, were kidnapped from Boging school in Kebbi State, next to Niger.
There was another attack on the church, killing two people and many were robbed.
America is a threat
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has canceled his visit to South Africa last weekend for the G20 summit to resolve the crisis.
On Sunday, he announced that 38 of the 38 kidnapped workers in Kwara State had been rescued, according to foreign sources.
"I want to make it clear that I will not falter. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to security and under my watch, we will ensure the security of this country and protect our people," Tinubu said.
The wave of kidnappings has resulted in the closure of many boarding schools across Nigeria.เนื่องจากผู้ปกครองรีบไปรับลูกๆ ของพวกเขา
The government is under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned earlier this month that he would send troops into Nigeria "with guns drawn" if Islamic militants are allowed to "kill Christians".
The Nigerian government has stated that accusations of persecution of Christians are a "gross distortion of the truth", stating that "terrorists attack anyone who rejects their murderous ideology, Muslims, Christians and non-religious people".
Some of the children are taken with the MPs, but getting them to reveal others will reduce the country's serious security crisis.
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