Abuja: A father has expressed his helplessness after witnessing gunmen on motorbikes abducting dozens of children, including his own son, from a Catholic boarding school in northern Nigeria. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when the attackers stormed St Mary’s school in Papiri village, Niger state.
According to BBC, the father, referred to as Theo for safety reasons, was awakened by the noise of gunmen as they passed his home with the abducted children. He described the harrowing scene of children being trafficked on foot like herds, with gunmen on approximately 50 motorbikes controlling them. Theo recounted his inability to intervene, stating he felt powerless and could only call the police, who arrived too late.
The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 303 students and 12 staff members were taken, although 50 children managed to escape and reunite with their families. Bishop Bulus Bawa Yohanna, chairman of the association’s Niger chapter, provided the BBC with a list of the abducted individuals. However, police were only aware of a few children escaping during the abduction.
Niger state governor, Umar Bago, disputed the number of abducted students, claiming it was “far, far below” 303. He criticized the school for remaining open despite previous threats by unknown gunmen. Bago labeled the attack merely a “scare” and assured that all students would eventually be rescued.
Bishop Yohanna expressed concern over the lack of security presence following the abductions. Parents, including Theo, have been camping outside the school, expressing anger at the government’s response. Theo voiced frustration over the governor’s absence at the school, feeling abandoned by the government.
The trauma of the abduction is palpable among the parents. A mother, whose only son was taken, expressed her deep sorrow and pleaded for help. Another parent, Lucas, shared the relief he felt when his youngest child, a six-year-old, managed to escape the kidnappers.
The northern region of Niger has become a hotspot for kidnappings, with ransom payments outlawed but ineffective in curbing the crisis. The BBC’s journey to Papiri highlighted the region’s security challenges, with police escorts and route advisories.
This incident marks the third school abduction in Nigeria within a week. Earlier, more than 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Kebbi state, and a church attack in Kwara state resulted in two deaths and dozens abducted. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to ensure security across Nigeria, emphasizing that every Nigerian deserves safety.
The spate of abductions has led to the closure of many boarding schools, with parents rushing to retrieve their children. The Nigerian government faces international pressure, particularly from former US President Donald Trump, who threatened military intervention if attacks on Christians continued. The government, however, refutes claims of religious persecution, attributing attacks to terrorists targeting all who oppose their ideology.