Nigeria faces sharp international criticism following mass kidnappings of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi states, with U.S. lawmakers and global organisations warning the country risks normalising a tragedy that should never be accepted. On November 21, 2025, armed men raided St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting over 300 students and 12 teachers. While 50 students reportedly escaped, at least 253 pupils and all staff remain captive.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora condemned the attack as “brazen and inhumane,” and Niger State authorities have launched an investigation into why the school continued operating despite security warnings. This followed an earlier attack in Kebbi State where 25 schoolgirls were abducted and the vice principal killed.
U.S. Senator Jim Risch criticized the Nigerian government’s repeated failures to protect children and vowed accountability. UNESCO and the African Union demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted students, highlighting threats to children’s rights and the future of communities.
Niger State has shut all schools indefinitely while security forces intensify rescue efforts with little detail on progress. Experts warn the kidnappings are driven by criminal gangs seeking ransom, signaling a worsening security crisis that urgently calls for better protection of vulnerable schools.
Public anger continues to rise as parents and civic groups demand decisive action to safeguard education rights for millions of Nigerian children.
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