Armed thugs struck under the cover of darkness at 2 a.m. on November 21, 2025, storming St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria. They snatched a staggering 303 pupils aged 10-18, along with 12 staff, in a terrifying raid that has sent shockwaves across the nation. This chilling attack spotlights a deadly surge in school kidnappings terrorising northern Nigeria.
Mass Kidnap Sends Shockwaves Nationwide
Gunmen armed with rifles targeted the boarding school dormitories in a daring pre-dawn assault. Some pupils managed to flee, but 88 escapees were quickly recaptured. In total, 315 people – 303 students and 12 teachers – were dragged off before the kidnappers vanished into nearby forests.
St. Mary’s, overseen by the Diocese of Minna, serves 629 pupils but had reopened despite official warnings. Niger State Secretary Abubakar Usman slammed the decision, calling it “reckless” and blaming it for the tragedy that unfolded.
Hunt On as State and Security Forces Scramble
- Police units and local hunters have launched broad search operations in thick forests surrounding the school.
- A joint military task force is combing the area, but no hostages have been freed so far.
- Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has ordered tighter patrols across vulnerable zones.
Though no group has claimed the atrocity, Islamist militants and armed herders are suspected amid a sharp rise in violent attacks across the region.
Nation Under Siege: School Attacks Spiral
This marks the third major school kidnapping in just one week. Earlier, 25 girls were abducted in Kebbi State, where the vice principal was shot dead. On the same day, a church in Kwara State was attacked, killing two and snatching worshippers.
Experts warn that organised criminal gangs are exploiting Nigeria’s weak security, carrying out brutal cross-state raids. With over 1,200 kidnappings in 2025 alone, schools remain prime targets for ruthless kidnappers.
Desperate Families Demand Action
“They are not doing enough. I do not believe in them,” said content creator Eze Gloria Chidinma, whose sister narrowly escaped the kidnap.
Parents gathered outside the school faced the nightmare of empty dorms and abandoned belongings. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna confirmed the grim figures after a full headcount, urging calm and prayers for the captives.
Calls are mounting for the government and military to step up and end this security nightmare that’s tearing apart Nigeria’s education sector and shattering families.
