In the quiet village of Papiri in Niger State, north‑central Nigeria, the night of November 21, 2025, turned into a nightmare. Gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School — a boarding school — and abducted hundreds of students and staff. Initial reports said 215 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were taken.
But after a thorough census, the numbers swelled to a staggering 303 students plus the same 12 teachers. The pupils ranged between 10 and 18 years, both boys and girls among them, according to Al Jazeera.
In a place that once echoed with classroom chatter, over 50 dormitories now stand empty, a chilling symbol of vanished futures.
Escape and the long wait
By Saturday and Sunday, 50 of the abducted pupils managed to escape and return to their families.
Even so, the joy of those reunions was tempered by anguish. As of now, around 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still in captivity.
Parents, clutching photographs of their children, gathered at the deserted school last Friday. They waited in anguish and desperation, demanding to know what had become of their loved ones. One heart‑rending moment came when a father, describing his missing child, said many of the abducted were “still of tender age.”
One parent told reporters that the toll of uncertainty had already cost a life — a mother died after suffering a heart attack brought on by trauma and stress.
Parents said they have received no meaningful updates. “Nobody from the government has briefed us about the abduction,” said one father whose 12‑year‑old son was among those taken.
Who carried out the attack, and why
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility.
Authorities believe the gunmen may be part of criminal gangs notorious for “banditry,” rather than organised militant groups.
Security forces, including tactical squads and local hunters, have been deployed to track the abductors and rescue the remaining captives.
The broader context is chilling: this attack follows another just days earlier in a neighbouring state, where 25 schoolgirls were seized at a boarding school in Kebbi State.
The pattern suggests a dangerous trend. Armed gangs are increasingly targeting educational institutions in remote and poorly secured areas, seeking ransom or leverage. Experts warn the problem may get worse unless urgent reforms are made.
A community in anguish demands answers
In Papiri, parents spend their days under the sun, outside the remains of the school, pleading for the safe return of their children. Their voices are heavy with grief.
“I saw broken windows in her dormitory room,” recalled one father whose daughter was among those taken, speaking of how security measures failed them.
Local leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have repeatedly pressed authorities for swift action and better protection of schools. They emphasise that children must not be left vulnerable to ransom‑seeking criminals.
Meanwhile, many schools across Niger State and neighbouring regions remain closed indefinitely, as fear grips communities and parents keep their children at home.
For those still waiting, hope and fear are interwoven. The escaped children are home but traumatised. The missing students and teachers remain hidden somewhere in the forests or bush. Each parent holds on to hope, yet fears the worst.
As the sun sets over Papiri, the anguished cries of parents mingle with silence. No official statement, no public update, no rescue — not yet. The questions hang heavy in the air: When will the others come home? Will they ever?
The community will keep waiting, keep pleading, keep hoping. And one thing is clear: the safety of children and schools in Nigeria must no longer be left to chance.
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