❓WHAT HAPPENED: Armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Agwara, central Nigeria, abducting students and teachers in the early hours of the morning.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Catholic Church reported the incident, with local residents and officials estimating nearly 100 victims. Armed bandit gangs and jihadist groups are suspected.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred between 1 AM and 3 AM on Friday at St. Mary’s School in Niger State, Nigeria.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation,” stated Abubakar Usman, Niger State government secretary.
🎯IMPACT: The attack highlights escalating insecurity in Nigeria, where jihadist and bandit violence continues to target Christians and educational institutions.
A Catholic school in Agwara, central Nigeria, was the site of a violent raid on Friday morning, during which armed attackers abducted students and teachers. Local officials fear the number of victims could be close to 100, though the exact count remains unconfirmed as security agencies investigate. The attack on St. Mary’s School is the second such incident in less than a week, following the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi state on Monday.
The Catholic Church reported that “armed attackers invaded” the school between 1 AM and 3 AM, shooting a security guard during the assault. Niger State’s government expressed sadness over the incident, with Abubakar Usman, the state government secretary, stating that authorities are working to confirm the number of abductees.
This latest attack underscores the growing threat posed by jihadist groups and criminal gangs in Nigeria. For over 16 years, jihadist organizations such as Boko Haram and Islamic State have waged an insurgency in the country’s north, seeking to establish a caliphate. These groups have increasingly allied with local bandit gangs, which are known for their mass kidnappings and ransom demands. The violence has disproportionately targeted Christians, drawing international condemnation.
President Donald J. Trump recently warned of the existential threat to Christianity in Nigeria, directing the Pentagon to prepare for potential military action. “Swift and brutal” measures are being considered, he stated on October 31, as part of efforts to combat the escalating violence against Christians.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu—who is Muslim—has deployed security forces to search for victims of recent kidnappings. The Minister of State for Defense, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, was tasked with leading efforts to rescue the abducted schoolgirls from Kebbi state earlier this week.
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