Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped 303 students and teachers at a Catholic school in the northwest on Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, the latest in a spate of school attacks this week that has forced the government to shut 47 colleges.
Friday's incident in Niger state was the largest mass kidnapping of school children since the March 2024 abduction of more than 200 students in northern Kaduna state.
Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the CAN chairman in Niger said he had travelled to the school. He said some students managed to escape, but gave no details.
Earlier, police and local government officials in Niger state confirmed the kidnapping from St. Mary's School, but they did not say how many.
Nigeria's security situation has been under heightened scrutiny since U.S. President Donald Trump threatened "fast" military action if the country fails to crack down on the killing of Christians.
In the first high-level meeting between the U.S. and Nigeria since Trump's threat, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth wrote on X that he met Nigeria's national security advisor on Thursday to discuss the persecution of Christians.
Nigeria's government says Trump's claims that Christians face persecution in Nigeria are a misrepresentation.
Police said security agencies were on the scene of Friday's attack on the Catholic school, combing nearby forests to try to rescue those abducted.
The Niger state government said the school had ignored an instruction that boarding schools should be closed because of intelligence indicating a high chance of attacks.
Other attacks this week include the kidnapping on Monday of 25 schoolgirls from a boarding school in Kebbi state and an attack on a church in Kwara state, in which a church official told Reuters that 38 worshippers were taken by gunmen.
The church official said the gunmen had issued a ransom demand of 100 million naira (roughly $69,000) per worshipper.
Kebbi, Kwara and Niger states border one another.
This week's attacks prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to cancel trips to South Africa and Angola, where he was due to attend a G20 summit and an African Union-European Union summit.
Thousands of revellers packed Berga's main square as fire-devil performers showered the crowd with sparks during Catalonia's UNESCO-listed La Patum fe...
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported...
At least 37 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines, as rescuers continued searching a collapsed commercial build...
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup ...
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U...
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been suspended pending a vote by member states on whether he should be removed from office, following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Corsica has moved a step closer to getting powers to make some laws locally after a French parliamentary committee approved a draft bill which would give the Mediterranean island more autonomy.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 32 people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
At least 37 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines, as rescuers continued searching a collapsed commercial building for survivors in General Santos on Tuesday.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup matches after its allocation of tickets was withdrawn just days before the tournament begins.
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of firms it believes are linked to Beijing's military.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and attacks on aid workers are hindering efforts to contain the disease.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry to the United States, preventing him from taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and ending what would have been a historic moment for Somali football.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment