 | |
| Date | November 21, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria |
| Coordinates | 10°37′30″N4°24′9″E / 10.62500°N 4.40250°E |
| Type | Kidnapping |
| Missing | 265 |
On 21 November 2025, gunmen abducted 315 people from St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. [1] The kidnapped include 303 students and 12 teachers. All other schools in Niger State, as well as many in nearby states, have closed indefinitely as a result of the attack. [2]
St Mary's School is a Catholic secondary school located in Papiri, on the northern edge of Kainji Lake, Nigeria. [1] Prior to the kidnapping, the school enrolled 629 students. [2] Nigeria struggles with an abduction crisis; at least five mass kidnappings had occurred in schools since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023. [3]
The attack came amid a security crisis in Nigeria. That week, kidnappers attacked residences in Zamfara State, a Kebbi State school, and a Kwara State church, seizing dozens at each location. [4] Amid the worsening security situation, President Tinubu cancelled his trips to the G20 summit and the 7th European Union–African Union Summit. [4]
The kidnapping occurred amid deteriorating Nigeria–United States relations. Earlier, US president Donald Trump had threatened military action in Nigeria to protect Christians from alleged religious persecution. [5]
The attack happened at night, [5] and took approximately three hours. [2] Armed gunmen, targeting the elementary dormitories, loaded children onto a large truck. [5] The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) counted 303 children and 12 teachers as kidnapped, revising earlier lower estimates. The CAN claimed that 88 had tried to escape, but were intercepted by kidnappers. This makes the kidnapping one of the largest in Nigerian history. [6]
The kidnapped students were of both sexes and range in age from 10 to 18. [1] According to Nigerian police, however, the school educated those aged from 12 to 17. [7]
Fifty students escaped on 23 November, according to the CAN, leaving 265 children in captivity. [8]
AP News cited authorities as stating that hunters and tactical squads were deployed to search for the abductees. [1]
The Nigerian federal government closed 47 schools in reaction to the Niger State and Kebbi State kidnappings. [3] The Niger State government announced the closure of all schools in the state until 2026, commencing Christmas break early. [9] On 24 November, it was reported that 50 children managed to escape captivity and reunited with their families. [10]
The Niger State government condemned the kidnapping, blaming the school for operating despite allegedly being told to close due to security threats. The CAN rejected this as blame-shifting and denied ever receiving such a warning. [1]
Amnesty International criticised President Tinubu's security policies as having failed to prevent the kidnapping. [11]
On 21 November, U.S. Representative Riley Moore described the kidnapping as "heartbreaking", and wrote "Enough is enough. We must do everything we can to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ." [5]
On 23 November, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow regarding the kidnappings at the end of the Angelus prayer, and made an appeal for their immediate release. [12]