At least 52 children aged between 12 and 17 were kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in the Papiri community of Niger State, Nigeria today, according to local media.
The school, St. Mary’s School, Papiri, was targeted in the early hours and security forces were deployed soon afterwards.
This incident follows a separate attack on a church in Kwara State earlier this week, where gunmen killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others during a service.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility, such kidnappings in Nigeria are often linked to Islamist-affiliated Fulani militia and armed bandit networks operating in northwest states.
The unfolding crisis highlights the growing vulnerability of educational and religious institutions in Nigeria and the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
