A shocking incident unfolded at St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger state, Nigeria, where 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were kidnapped by armed assailants. This update was provided by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), revising the initial report of 215 abducted children.

The revised figures came after a thorough verification and final headcount, as confirmed in a statement by Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the chairman of CAN’s Niger state chapter, following his visit to the school on Friday.

According to Yohanna, an additional 88 students were captured as they attempted to flee during the attack. The victims, both male and female, are between the ages of 10 and 18.

This alarming abduction in the remote Papiri community of Niger state occurred just four days after a similar incident in Maga town, Kebbi state, where 25 schoolchildren were taken. Maga town is located approximately 170 kilometers away.

As of now, no group has taken responsibility for these kidnappings. In response, authorities have dispatched tactical teams along with local hunters in efforts to secure the release of the abducted children.

A claim from the state government that the school had reopened for studies despite an earlier directive for schools in that part of Niger state to close temporarily due to security threats was described as false by Yohanna.

“We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame,” he said, calling on families “to remain calm and prayerful.”

School kidnappings have come to define insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation, and armed gangs often see schools as “strategic” targets to draw more attention.

UNICEF said last year that only 37 per cent of schools across 10 of the conflict-hit states have early warning systems to detect threats.

Niger state has now shut down all schools as a measure to forestall other kidnappings. The decision was in a bid to protect lives and property, Niger Governor Umar Bago told reporters after meeting with security officials in Minna.

“It is the decision of stakeholders today to close all schools in Niger state. All schools are closed till further notice. So we have declared Christmas holiday for all schools in Niger state,” Bago said.

The kidnappings are happening amid US President Donald Trump’s claims of targeted killings against Christians in the West African country.

Attacks in Nigeria affect both Christians and Muslims. The school attack earlier this week in Kebbi state was in a Muslim-majority town.

The attack also took place as Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu was visiting the US where he met Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.