Armed males attacked a Catholic boarding college in northwestern area of Nigeria and kidnapped a number of schoolchildren and employees early Friday. It is the most recent in a spate of abductions in Africa’s most populous nation and got here simply days after 25 schoolgirls had been kidnapped in a neighboring state. The newest abduction comes because the nation is dealing with scrutiny from the Trump administration amid ongoing concern about violence in opposition to Christians within the West African nation.
The assault and abductions occurred at St. Mary’s Faculty in Niger State. Native officers didn’t disclose the variety of college students and employees kidnapped, nor who is perhaps accountable for the assault. Native Nigerian broadcaster Come up TV mentioned 52 schoolchildren had been taken.
Nigerian police officers mentioned the abductions occurred within the early hours of Friday and that navy and safety forces have since been deployed to the group. They described St. Mary’s as a secondary college that serves youngsters between the ages of in 12 and 17.
The secretary to the Niger state authorities, Abubakar Usman, mentioned in a press release that the incident occurred regardless of prior intelligence warning of heightened threats.
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s Faculty proceeded to reopen and resume tutorial actions with out notifying or looking for clearance from the State Authorities, thereby exposing pupils and the employees to avoidable threat,” the assertion mentioned.
The abductions occurred days after gunmen on Monday attacked a highschool and kidnapped 25 schoolgirls within the neighboring Kebbi state, in Maga, round 105 miles from Papiri. One of many ladies later escaped and is secure, the college’s principal mentioned.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu earlier this week postponed his journey to this weekend’s Group of 20 summit after promising to accentuate rescue efforts.
Deeni Jibo/AP
“I’m heartbroken by the kidnapping of our daughters in Kebbi and the painful lack of Brigadier Basic Musa Uba and the courageous troopers who fell in Borno. Their households, and the households of the kidnapped schoolgirls, are in my prayers,” Tinubu mentioned in a social media put up Wednesday. “I’ve directed the safety businesses to behave swiftly and produce the women again to Kebbi State.”
Nigeria was not too long ago thrust into the highlight after President Trump singled the nation out, stating that Christians are being persecuted — an allegation that the Nigerian authorities rejected.
“If the Nigerian Authorities continues to permit the killing of Christians, the united statesA. will instantly cease all assist and help to Nigeria, and will very nicely go into that now disgraced nation, “guns-a-blazing,” to fully wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who’re committing these horrible atrocities. I’m hereby instructing our Division of Battle to organize for attainable motion,” Mr. Trump mentioned in a Reality social put up earlier this month.
Nigerian International Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar rejected Mr. Trump’s claims in a put up on X earlier this month, saying “Nigeria is a God-fearing nation the place we respect religion, tolerance, range, and inclusion.”
In October, Mr. Trump designated Nigeria as a “Nation of Specific Concern” in a listing of nations that the State Division says have violated faith freedom.
Earlier this week, Tinubu despatched his nationwide safety adviser and a wider Nigerian delegation to Washington to satisfy with Trump administration officers and U.S. lawmakers, the Reuters information company reported Friday.
The White Home is contemplating sanctions and Pentagon engagement on counterterrorism as a part of a plan to put strain on Abuja to raised shield Christian communities and non secular freedom, a senior U.S. State Division official informed Reuters Thursday.
No group has claimed duty for the assaults in Niger and Kebbi states, however analysts and locals say gangs typically goal faculties, vacationers and distant villagers in kidnappings for ransom. Authorities say the gunmen are largely former herders who’ve taken up arms in opposition to farming communities after clashes between them over strained sources.
Abductions have come to outline the insecurity prevailing in Africa’s most populous nation and the painful penalties.
At the least 1,500 college students have been kidnapped within the area since Boko Haram jihadi extremists seized 276 Chibok schoolgirls greater than a decade in the past. However bandits are additionally lively within the area, and analysts say gangs typically goal faculties to realize consideration.
Analysts and residents blame the insecurity on a failure to prosecute identified attackers and the rampant corruption that limits weapons provides to safety forces whereas making certain a gradual provide to the gangs.
A satellite tv for pc view reveals the college compound, rectangular in form, surrounded by a wall and connected to an adjoining major college, with over 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. It’s situated on the outskirts of the city of Aguara, close to the primary Yelwa-Mokwa street.
