Pope Leo The pontiff expressed his “deep pain” over the situation and asked the authorities to take immediate measures to guarantee the release of the hostages.
During his message after praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, Leo XIV stated that he had received the news with “immense sadness” and addressed words of consolation to the affected families. “I call for the hostages to be released immediately and I urge the competent authorities to make appropriate and timely decisions to guarantee their release,” declared the pope, who also requested prayers so that “churches and schools continue to be places of safety and hope.”
The mass kidnapping occurred on Friday in the community of Papiri, in Niger State, northern Nigeria. According to the Christian Association of Nigeria, the kidnapped students, both male and female, are between 10 and 18 years old. Bishop Bulus Yohanna, president of the organization in Niger, confirmed that after the census and verification, the total number of abducted people amounts to 315, including students and teachers. The authorities reported that the attackers, identified as armed bandits, broke into the boarding school around 2:00 in the morning.
This incident joins other recent kidnappings in the country. Earlier Monday, 25 girls were abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State, while on Tuesday, 38 parishioners, including the pastor, were kidnapped during an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where at least two people lost their lives. These events reflect an escalation of violence against educational and religious centers in different regions of Nigeria.
Given the seriousness of the situation, the Nigerian Government ordered the temporary closure of 41 boarding schools in the states of Niger, Kebbi, Plateau and Benue, considered hotbeds of kidnappings and murders. Federal Ministry of Education Director of Higher Secondary Education Binta AbdulKadir announced the move as part of efforts to prevent further security breaches. At the same time, the Niger Police deployed tactical units, military personnel and other security agencies to search the area and search for the kidnapped students.
The African Union Commission, through its Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, strongly condemned the abductions and denounced the persistent threats posed by terrorism, violent extremism and banditry in Nigeria. The organization demanded the activation of accountability mechanisms to bring those responsible to justice and highlighted the risk faced by children on the continent, victims of serious violations of their rights, such as forced recruitment, sexual violence and kidnapping.
The context of insecurity in Nigeria has been aggravated by the activity of criminal gangs, known as bandits, who carry out massive assaults and kidnappings for extortion purposes. Furthermore, the presence of jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the West African Province has intensified violence since 2009. A UNICEF report published in April 2024 warns that only 37% of schools in ten conflict-affected states have early warning systems for threats.
The history of mass kidnappings in Nigerian schools is alarming. In 2014, Boko Haram abducted 276 girls in the village of Chibok, of whom, according to the UN, at least 91 have still not returned to their homes. The vulnerability of educational centers and the repetition of these attacks have generated international concern and demands for coordinated action to protect minors.
In this scenario, the African Union has reiterated its support for the Government and people of Nigeria, encouraging international cooperation to achieve the release of those kidnapped and guarantee their safety in the midst of the crisis. Source: Infobae
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