Hundreds of children abducted from Nigerian Catholic school, days after similar crime

[mahatmakanejeeves]

World
Hundreds of children abducted from Nigerian Catholic school, days after similar crime

Updated on: November 22, 2025 / 6:41 AM EST / CBS/AP

Armed men attacked a Catholic boarding school in northwestern region of Nigeria and abducted several schoolchildren and staff early Friday. It's the latest in a spate of abductions in Africa's most populous country and came just days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped in a neighboring state. The latest abduction comes as the country is facing scrutiny from the Trump administration amid ongoing concern about violence against Christians in the West African nation.

The attack and abductions took place at St. Mary's School in Niger State. Local officials did not immediately disclose the number of students and staff abducted, nor who might be responsible for the attack. Local Nigerian broadcaster Arise TV said 52 schoolchildren were taken.

The Christian Association of Nigeria said Saturday that 303 children and 12 teachers were taken. Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of CAN, said the total was determined "after a verification exercise and a final census was carried out."

Nigerian police officials said the abductions took place in the early hours of Friday and that military and security forces have since been deployed to the community. They described St. Mary's as a secondary school that serves children between the ages of in 12 and 17.

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[MaeScott]

1. The evil in this world is heartbreaking. nt