Parents in Niger State are pleading for the safe return of more than 300 children abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area. The mass kidnapping, one of Nigeria’s largest in recent years, has left families devastated, with many of the victims as young as nursery-school age The Punch Al Arabiya English Aljazeera.
The Attack
On Friday, November 21, 2025, armed gangs stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School, abducting 303 children and 12 teachers.
Witnesses said the attackers fired shots into the air, causing chaos as terrified pupils were herded away.
Authorities confirmed that at least 50 children managed to escape, but more than 265 remain in captivity The Punch Al Arabiya English The Guardian Nigeria.
Parents’ Anguish
Parents have spoken of their desperation:
One father, Michael Ibrahim, said his four-year-old son, who suffers from asthma, was among those taken. “My son is a small boy. He doesn’t even know how to talk,” he lamented The Punch.
Families have staged vigils and protests, demanding urgent government action.
Some parents have fallen ill under the stress, with one mother hospitalized after the abduction of her child.
Wider Context
The Niger abduction came just days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers abducted in Kwara State The Punch Human Rights Watch.
The wave of attacks has triggered widespread school closures across northern Nigeria.
International voices, including the Pope, have called for the immediate release of the children Toronto Star.
Security Response
Nigerian authorities have deployed tactical squads and local hunters to comb forests for the abducted children Aljazeera.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that some pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday, reuniting with their families Al Arabiya English The Guardian Nigeria.
Human Rights Watch urged the government to act urgently to secure the release of victims and protect schools from further attacks Human Rights Watch.
