Mass kidnapping in Nigeria: more than 250 children and 12 teachers held captive by militants

A mass kidnapping has taken place in the Niger State of Nigeria: on November 22, 2025, an armed group attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School, taking 303 students and 12 teachers hostage. Although 50 children managed to escape, the fate of 253 students and 12 teachers remains unknown, which has caused serious concern both domestically and internationally.

According to CBS News, the attack on the school took place on Friday. According to the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state, the escaped students, who range in age from 10 to 18, were able to return home one by one within 24 hours of the attack. Authorities are currently conducting a massive search operation involving tactical units and local hunters, but the hostages have yet to be located.

The incident prompted an immediate response. State authorities ordered the temporary closure of all educational institutions to ensure security. Pope Leo XIV in his Sunday address called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those abducted, expressing grief and support for their families. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu assured the public that the government will not stop efforts until all the hostages are rescued.

The attack was another link in a chain of similar crimes plaguing Nigeria’s northern regions. Shortly before that, 25 students were kidnapped in the neighboring state of Kebbi. Mass abductions of children have become a common tactic for armed gangs, who use hostages for ransom and to pressure communities in regions with a weak government presence. Security experts note that it is the impunity of criminals that is contributing to this alarming trend, exacerbating the already dire security crisis in the country.

Recall that according to the latest World Watch List 2025 report published by Open Doors US, more than 380 million Christians worldwide face persecution because of their faith. That’s one in seven believers in the world. Despite the growing pressure, Christian communities continue to exist and even grow in the countries with the highest levels of persecution.