A large-scale abduction has taken place in Nigeria, where over 300 children and staff members were kidnapped from a Catholic school. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken by gunmen from St Mary’s School in central Nigeria. Initially, reports indicated 215 students were missing, but updated figures reveal that nearly half of the school’s student body has been abducted. This incident is part of a series of attacks by armed groups, referred to as bandits in the region, who have a history of abducting individuals for ransom.

Local authorities stated that armed men forcibly entered the boarding school at approximately 02:00 local time on Friday, capturing both students and staff members who were present. Police are currently conducting search operations in the forests with the aim of rescuing the abducted individuals.

Officials in Niger state alleged that the school had disregarded a directive to close its boarding facilities following intelligence warnings about heightened security risks, leading to unnecessary exposure of the students and staff to danger. The school has not responded to these allegations.

The number of abducted students surpasses the well-known Chibok mass kidnapping of 2014, which garnered global attention and prompted a campaign, supported by former US First Lady Michelle Obama, to secure the return of the 276 girls. This recent incident adds to a series of attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria.

In a separate incident, over 20 schoolgirls, reportedly of Muslim faith, were abducted from a boarding school in the neighboring Kebbi state. Additionally, a church in Kwara state was attacked, resulting in two fatalities and the abduction of 38 individuals. In response to these events, the central government of Nigeria has instructed over 40 federal colleges to suspend operations temporarily.