Monday, November 24, 2025 - Nigeria records highest school abduction last week after gunmen kidnapped 315 victims from St Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger State, underscoring a new low in the country’s security crisis.
The number of abducted persons, initially announced as 215,
was later revised upward to 315 by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
after a verification exercise.
Bulus Yohanna, chairman of CAN in Niger State and Catholic
Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed in a statement issued by Daniel Atori,
his media aide, that the final tally stands at 303 pupils and 12 teachers.
CAN reported on Sunday that 50 pupils escaped between Friday
and Saturday and have been reunited with their families.
According to Yohanna, who made this known on Sunday in a
statement issued by Atori, CAN discovered the development after visiting the
parents of the children.
He said there are still 236 pupils in captivity, including
three children belonging to staff members and 14 secondary students, putting
the total number at 253.
“This is to notify the public that as of Sunday, 23rd
November 2025, we received some good news as fifty (50) pupils escaped and have
reunited with their parents,” the statement read.
“This comes just a few days after suspected terrorists
attacked and abducted 303 pupils and students.”
“We were able to ascertain this when we contacted and
visited some parents,” the statement read.”
The abduction of the 315 victims came amid a string of
violent attacks across the country.
On Monday, gunmen abducted 25 female students of Government
Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Kebbi State, after shooting the
principal. The vice principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was killed while
attempting to protect the students.
That same day, Bobbo Paschal, a Catholic priest from St.
Stephen Parish under the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, was kidnapped.
On Tuesday, terrorists killed at least five people and
abducted several others in Eruku, a boundary town between Kwara and Kogi
states. They later attacked a church in the area, killing two people and
kidnapping a pastor and several worshippers.
In Zamfara State, terrorists killed three persons and
abducted at least 64 others in Fegin Baza village, Tsafe LGA.
ISWAP also recently killed Musa Uba, a brigadier general, in
a separate attack.
Mohammed Idris, minister of Information and National
Orientation, gave the clarification on Friday during an appearance on Channels
Television’s Politics Today.
Idris said public expectations of immediate arrests and
trials overlook the complexity of tracking and proving terror-funding networks.
He noted that despite mounting frustration among Nigerians,
the government cannot simply compile names or act on public accusations without
incontrovertible evidence.
“It’s not about whether a list exists or not. The issue
isn’t that straightforward,” he said.
“You don’t rush to court simply because someone made a
public pronouncement. Proper investigations must be carried out, and some of
the concerns people raise are valid.”
Idris, however, insisted that President Bola Tinubu’s
administration is not complacent. According to him, significant progress has
been recorded in security operations since May 2023, even though these gains
often go unnoticed.
He said, “More than 13,500 bandits, criminals, and jihadists
have been neutralised and over 17,000 arrested since May 2023. Many are already
facing trial, and some have been convicted.”
The minister also addressed delays in ambassadorial
appointments, confirming that the president has finalised the list, which is
now undergoing security vetting.
Meanwhile, the federal government, on Friday, ordered the
closure of 41 unity secondary schools over the surging security concerns across
the country.
Tunji Alausa, minister of education, in a statement, gave
the directive to shut down the concerned schools following ‘recent security
challenges’ in parts of the country and the need to prevent breaches.
According to the circular signed by Hajia Abdulkadir,
director of Senior Secondary Education, on behalf of the minister, all
principals of affected schools are to enforce the closure without delay.
The 41 schools are in states across the North-West,
North-East, North-Central, and parts of the South.
The affected schools are: FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC
Zaria, FTC Kafanchan, FGGC Bakori, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura, FGGC Tambuwal, FSC
Sokoto, and FTC Wurno.
Also affected are: FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC
Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru, FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia, FGGC Bida, FGC
New-Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omuaran, FTC Gwanara,
FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FTC Ogugu, FGGC Bwari, and FGC Rubochi.
Others are: FGGC Abaji, FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua, FTC
Michika, FGC Ganye, FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri, and FTC
Zambuk.
Also, Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board
(PSUBEB), also on Friday, ordered the immediate shutdown of all basic schools
across the state as part of urgent preventive measures aimed at safeguarding
pupils and communities.
The directive, signed by Richard Nanpon Jonah, the Public
Relation Officer (PRO) on behalf of the management of the board, made available
to Journalists on Friday in Jos said it affects Government Junior Model
Secondary Schools (GJMSSs), primary schools and day schools.
According to PSUBEB, Government Junior Model Secondary
Schools are to close effective Saturday, 22 November 2025, while all primary
and day schools will shut down beginning Monday, 24 November 2025.
“The Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB)
has directed the immediate closure of schools across the state as follows:
Government Junior Model Secondary Schools (GJMSSs) will close effective
Saturday, 22 November 2025. Primary and Day Schools will close effective
Monday, 24 November 2025,” the statement said.
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