A wave of anger and despair has swept through northern Nigeria following the abduction of over 300 students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri village, Niger state. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, has left parents feeling abandoned by the government and desperate for answers. Theo, a father whose son was among those taken, recounted the harrowing scene to the BBC, describing how gunmen on motorcycles stormed the school and herded the children away like livestock. Despite his instinct to intervene, Theo felt powerless, knowing he could do nothing against the armed kidnappers. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 303 students and 12 staff were abducted, though 50 children managed to escape and have since been reunited with their families. However, Niger state governor Umar Bago disputed these numbers, claiming the figure was exaggerated and blaming the school for remaining open despite prior threats. Parents like Theo have been camping outside the school, frustrated by the lack of government action and security presence. The northern region of Niger has become a hotspot for kidnappings, with criminal gangs exploiting the area’s vast forests and weak law enforcement. This incident is the third mass abduction in Nigeria within a week, prompting President Bola Tinubu to cancel his G20 summit trip to address the crisis. While Tinubu has vowed to secure the nation, parents remain skeptical, feeling their children’s lives are not a priority. The abductions have forced the closure of many boarding schools across Nigeria, leaving parents in a state of fear and uncertainty.
Abducted child’s father tells BBC he felt helpless as he saw mass Nigerian kidnapping
