In a troubling escalation of violence, armed men abducted an unknown number of students and staff from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger state, central Nigeria. This marks the second mass school kidnapping in the country this week, following the abduction of over 20 schoolgirls from a boarding school in Kebbi state on Monday. The latest attack occurred early Friday morning, with local residents fearing that nearly 100 individuals may have been taken. Authorities had previously ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the region due to heightened security threats, but St Mary’s School reportedly reopened without government clearance, exposing students to avoidable risk. Security agencies are now conducting extensive search operations in nearby forests to rescue the victims. The incident has sparked widespread fear and uncertainty among families awaiting news of their loved ones. Nigeria is currently grappling with multiple overlapping security crises, including kidnappings for ransom by criminal gangs, jihadist insurgencies in the north-east, and deadly clashes between herders and farmers in the central region. These challenges have been compounded by recent claims from US President Donald Trump that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, allegations vehemently denied by the Nigerian government. President Bola Tinubu has postponed his foreign trips to address the escalating violence in Africa’s most populous nation. The situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms to protect vulnerable communities and restore stability.