A group of students has been abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in central Nigeria, marking the second mass kidnapping of schoolchildren in less than a week and adding to the growing anxiety surrounding security conditions in the country.

The attack occurred in Agwara, located in Niger State, where armed men stormed the school hostel during the night and fled with an unconfirmed number of pupils. Authorities say rescue operations are currently under way, with security forces sweeping nearby forests and surrounding communities.

Niger State Confirms Kidnapping but Number of Victims Still Unknown

Abubakar Usman, the Secretary to the Niger State Government, expressed shock and concern in an official statement:

“The Niger State government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary’s School in Agwara local government area.”

He added that the exact number of abducted students remains unclear, as security teams work to gather accurate details on the victims.

Local station Arise News reported that 52 students may have been taken, though authorities have not verified this figure.

Photos from the scene show empty dormitory rooms and abandoned bunks—an unsettling reminder of similar mass abductions that have plagued the region over the last decade.

Second School Kidnapping in Nigeria in Just Days

This latest attack comes on the heels of a separate abduction earlier this week in Kebbi State, where 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped by armed men during a dawn raid on a government boarding school. One girl managed to escape, but 24 remain missing as of Friday.

Niger State police confirmed receiving a distress call around 2am, reporting that armed bandits had broken into St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School and seized students from the school’s hostel.

“Police tactical units and military personnel have been deployed. Security agencies are combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students,” authorities said.

The rapid succession of attacks has intensified scrutiny on Nigeria’s security situation, prompting increased patrols and heightened alerts across multiple states.

Attacks Come Amid International Political Attention

These kidnappings follow recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of potential military action over what he claimed were targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has rejected those assertions, emphasizing that both Muslims and Christians are frequent victims of banditry, armed groups, and extremist violence.

Trump’s statement echoes narratives circulating in certain U.S. evangelical and far-right groups—a narrative Nigerian officials say misrepresents the country’s complex security challenges.

Church Attacks Add to Rising Tension

Beyond the school kidnappings, Nigeria has experienced multiple assaults on religious centers this week:

– Church Attack in Western Nigeria

On Tuesday, armed men opened fire during a church service that was being recorded and broadcast live.
At least two worshippers were killed, and dozens are believed to have been abducted.

– Kidnapping in Kwara State

Also on Tuesday, 38 worshippers were taken from a church in Kwara State.
On Friday, a church representative told Reuters that the kidnappers are now demanding 100 million naira (approximately $69,000) for each hostage—an enormous ransom that underscores the growing boldness of armed groups.

Nigeria on High Security Alert

With multiple coordinated attacks in a short span, national security forces have been placed on high alert. Local leaders are urging cooperation from residents while vowing that the state will not relent in efforts to rescue victims.

Mass abductions—especially of schoolchildren—remain a persistent threat in Nigeria, where armed groups exploit weak rural security networks, difficult terrain, and under-resourced law enforcement agencies.

As rescue teams continue to search for the missing students, families in Agwara and across Niger State brace for updates, hoping for the safe return of their children amid a troubling resurgence of school-targeted violence.