MASS KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA: 215 Children Seized From Catholic School in Dawn Raid
Gunmen attacked St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community of Niger State's Agwara district early Friday morning, abducting 215 pupils along with 12 teachers. The Diocese of Kontagora described the kidnapping as "painful and disturbing," with Father Jatau Luka Joseph stating that armed attackers invaded the school between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., causing "fear and distress within the school community".
Daniel Atori, spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, said he had travelled to the community to meet distressed families, adding that the association is working "to ensure our children's safe return". An update announced Saturday changed the tally to over 300 students after "a verification exercise and a final census was carried out," according to Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger State chapter of CAN, who visited the school Friday.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora said a guard was "badly shot" during the attack. Residents said the school lacked a formal security presence.
The abductions took place days after gunmen on Monday attacked a high school and abducted 25 schoolgirls in the neighboring Kebbi state, in Maga, around 170 kilometers from Papiri. One of the girls later escaped.
In a separate attack on Monday in Kwara state, which borders Niger state, gunmen attacked a church, killing two people. During the attack, 38 worshippers were also abducted, with kidnappers demanding a ransom of 100 million naira ($69,000) for each person taken.
President Bola Tinubu cancelled his planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa following the abductions. Vice President Kashim Shettima will attend in his place. "We will use every instrument of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the full weight of justice," Shettima said during a visit to Kebbi state Wednesday.
Authorities closed 47 of the country's federal unity colleges that are mostly in conflict-battered northern states, according to a circular issued by Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education.
The recent string of attacks coincides with the arrival of a Nigerian delegation in Washington for discussions with U.S. government officials.
A Pentagon official confirmed a meeting that took place Thursday between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The insecurity situation in many parts of the country has been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia. Authorities say the gunmen are mostly former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over strained resources.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but analysts and locals say gangs often target schools, travelers and remote villagers in kidnappings for ransom.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Two hundred fifteen children. Kidnapped from their beds. Between 1 and 3 a.m. Most of them girls aged 12-17. Catholic school. Christian students.
Now the count is over 300.
This is what genocide looks like when the world refuses to call it genocide.
One week in Nigeria: 38 worshippers kidnapped from church ($69,000 ransom per person). Two Christians killed in church attack. 25 schoolgirls abducted. 215 Catholic school children seized (now 300+). 12 teachers taken. One security guard shot.
And the Nigerian government still insists Trump "misrepresents" their security challenges.
Fulani militias are suspected. Which means everyone knows who did it. But no one will say it.
These aren't "armed bandits." These aren't "former herders" upset about land disputes. These are Islamist militias systematically targeting Christians. Raiding churches. Kidnapping pastors. Seizing children from Catholic schools.
The school had no security. Because the government that claims to protect all religions equally didn't protect them at all.
President Tinubu canceled his G20 trip. Closed 47 schools. Deployed troops. Made promises about justice.
All of which happened AFTER Trump threatened military action. Before that? Nigerian officials were in Washington explaining why America misunderstands their "complex" situation.
Three hundred Christian children are missing. That's not complex. That's clear.
Ambassador Waltz called it "genocide wearing the mask of chaos." One bullet at a time. One kidnapped child at a time. Entire congregations erased.
Nigeria's response? Close schools instead of hunting kidnappers. Make promises instead of rescuing children. Brief the vice president instead of sending the army.
Meanwhile parents wait. Children sleep in the bush. Kidnappers count ransom money.
This is the third major attack in one week. How many more before the world admits what's happening?
TAKE ACTION
Urgent Response to Nigerian Mass Kidnapping
- Voice of the Martyrs – Emergency response for Nigerian Christian families
Website: www.persecution.com | Phone: 918-337-8015 - Contact the White House – Demand immediate action on Trump's threatened military intervention
Website: www.whitehouse.gov/contact | Phone: 202-456-1414 - International Christian Concern – Direct advocacy and aid for kidnapping victims' families
Website: www.persecution.org - Open Doors USA – Emergency relief operations in Nigeria
Website: www.opendoorsusa.org | Phone: 888-524-2535 - Contact Your Representatives – Demand U.S. pressure on Nigeria including sanctions, military support for rescue operations, and consequences for government inaction
- Samaritan's Purse – On-ground assistance in Nigerian crisis zones
Website: www.samaritanspurse.org | Phone: 828-262-1980 - Pray – For the 300+ kidnapped children and 12 teachers from St. Mary's School, for the 38 church members held for $69,000 ransom each, for the 24 missing schoolgirls in Kebbi, and for God to break the power of Fulani militias terrorizing Nigeria's Christians
DEUS VULT
