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.
One month after Ebola cases were confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials and aid organisations say the true extent of ...
Firefighters and workers were clearing debris on Monday after what Ukraine described as a deliberate Russian strike severely damaged a nearly 1,000-ye...
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed aga...
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of confli...
Hungary's parliament on Monday approved a constitutional amendment limiting prime ministers to a maximum of eight years in office, a move that effecti...
Hungary's parliament on Monday approved a constitutional amendment limiting prime ministers to a maximum of eight years in office, a move that effectively prevents former premier Viktor Orbán from returning to the country's top political post.
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on Monday, adding that he will impose restrictions on gaming and livestreaming platforms as well.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being recruited by a mystery figure known only as "EL Money".
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
One month after Ebola cases were confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials and aid organisations say the true extent of the outbreak remains unclear because of major gaps in testing, reporting and disease surveillance.
Firefighters and workers were clearing debris on Monday after what Ukraine described as a deliberate Russian strike severely damaged a nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral in Kyiv, one of the country's most important religious and cultural landmarks.
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing it as a major diplomatic success and a victory for peace.
Hungary's parliament on Monday approved a constitutional amendment limiting prime ministers to a maximum of eight years in office, a move that effectively prevents former premier Viktor Orbán from returning to the country's top political post.
Franco-German defence group KNDS unveiled a new battle tank on Monday designed to replace France's ageing Leclerc fleet, as delays continue to hamper the two countries' joint next-generation tank programme.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment