Conflicts

Over 300 Abducted from Nigerian School; Dozens Reported to Have Escaped

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Nov 23, 2025

THE BARE STORY

Gunmen abducted 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in Nigeria's Niger state, on Friday. The students taken are between the ages of 10 and 18. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A school official, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed the number of people taken. On Sunday, a school authority announced that 50 of the abducted students had escaped between Friday and Saturday and returned to their families. Following the escapes, 253 students and 12 teachers remain missing. Authorities stated that tactical squads and local hunters have been deployed to conduct a rescue mission.

In response to the incident, all schools in Niger state were reportedly ordered to close on Saturday. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said his government will work to free the hostages and secure the nation. The state government claimed the school had reopened against security warnings, but a school official called this claim an "afterthought," stating no such circular was received.

The abduction occurred four days after a separate attack in the neighboring Kebbi state, where armed attackers kidnapped 25 schoolchildren. Both states are in a region where, according to one report, armed gangs frequently use kidnapping for ransom. A security analyst cited in one summary suggested that "an absence of consequences" fuels these attacks. Pope Leo XIV reportedly expressed sadness and appealed for the hostages' immediate release.

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• The school did not receive any warning to remain closed. A school official has refuted the government's claim that the school reopened against security advice. The official described this assertion as an "afterthought," stating that the school had not received any circular or communication instructing it to close.

• The scale of the abduction was confirmed by the school. A school official, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, verified the initial numbers, confirming that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken from the institution. This highlights the severity of the attack on the St. Mary's School community.

• A significant number of students have already escaped captivity. A school authority announced that 50 of the abducted students managed to escape between Friday and Saturday and have since been reunited with their families. While 253 students and 12 teachers are still missing, this development was reported by the school.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Based on the provided information, this event in Nigeria is not expected to have a direct or immediate practical impact on the U.S. general public.

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