Overview
- The Christian Association of Nigeria reports 227 abducted from St. Mary’s in Niger state, including 215 pupils and 12 teachers, while authorities say the total remains unconfirmed.
- Police and military units have deployed to the Papiri area and are combing forested corridors to locate the hostages following the predawn attack.
- Niger state officials accuse the Catholic school of defying a temporary closure directive issued after intelligence warned of heightened threats in the region.
- President Bola Tinubu placed security agencies on high alert and canceled foreign travel, as some neighboring states ordered school closures as a precaution.
- The assault follows two major incidents this week: 25 girls abducted from a Kebbi boarding school where a vice-principal was killed, and an attack on a Kwara church that left two dead and 38 reportedly kidnapped with ransom demands.