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The big news of the moment is coming from the southern African country of Nigeria. Gunmen attacked a Catholic school in the Western Province on Friday morning. They took approximately 215 students and 12 teachers hostage inside the school, officials said. This incident comes just days after gunmen kidnapped 25 female students in a neighboring state.
Attack on St. Mary’s School
Regarding the incident, Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government, said the attack and kidnapping took place at St. Mary’s School, located in Agwara. However, he did not share any information about the students and staff taken hostage. According to local TV channel Arise TV, 215 students were taken hostage. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Security Forces Deployed
The Niger State Police Command said the kidnappings took place early in the morning, and military and security forces have been deployed in the community. It describes St. Mary’s as a secondary school that educates children aged 12 to 17 in Nigeria. Satellite images show the school campus is connected to a nearby primary school, which has over 50 classrooms and dormitories.
What the Victim Said
Dauda Chekula, 62, said the abducted schoolchildren included his four grandchildren, aged between 7 and 10. Chekula said, “We don’t know what’s happening right now because we haven’t heard anything since this morning. The children who managed to escape have scattered, some have fled back to their homes, and the only information we have is that the attackers are still taking the remaining children.”
State Government Issued Statement
A statement from the Secretary of the Niger State Government said the kidnappings occurred despite prior intelligence warnings of increased threats. It read, “Unfortunately, St. Mary’s School resumed academic activities without informing or obtaining approval from the state government, exposing students and staff to unavoidable risks.”
