Name: Nigeria reels from wave of mass kidnappings
Uploaded: 2025-11-25T07:40:59.592Z
Duration: 2 min 7 s
Description: The abduction of 300 students from a school in northern Nigeria is the latest and worst in a series of kidnappings in the country that has led to school closures and accusations of government corruption.

The abduction of 300 students from a school in northern Nigeria is the latest and worst in a series of kidnappings in the country that has led to school closures and accusations of government corruption.

Niger

Northern Nigeria has experienced a wave of mass kidnappings, with as many as 300 students reportedly abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School by armed gunmen. This incident is described as the worst mass kidnapping in years and follows similar attacks, including the abduction of 25 students and dozens of church parishioners in central Nigeria.

Authorities believe ransom is a motive in at least one case, with criminal gangs or extremist groups suspected as perpetrators. The Nigerian government has announced plans to hire more police but has also sent students home due to safety concerns, while debates continue over the government's handling of the crisis and the religious dimensions of the violence.

Nigeria reels from wave of mass kidnappings

Empty dorms and desks at the St. Mary's Catholic School in northern Nigeria attest to the horrendous and heartbreaking mass abduction of dozens of children. Distraught, parents came looking but found no one. I'm here searching and looking whether I will see any child but I have not seen any child. Other parents said dozens of motorcycle riding gunmen swooped in and took as many as 300 students. While 50 managed to escape, it's still the worst mass kidnapping in years. Harkening back to the 2014 abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls by the extremist group Boko Haram. If anything, London-based Nigerian human rights lawyer Ulama Bokardi says the situation may be even worse now. I can't remember any time when there were three mass kidnappings within a week. A week ago, 25 students in central Nigeria were kidnapped as were dozens of parishioners at a church that was attacked. Ransom appears to have been the motive in at least one of the cases with criminal gangs or extremist groups the likely perpetrators. The government says it plans to hire tens of thousands more police but in the meantime, unable to guarantee children's safety in the country's northern and western schools, Nigeria's government is instead sending many home. I think what's happening is criminal negligence on the part of the Nigerian government. The first thing is mega corruption in the defense and security procurement sector. They're killing record numbers of Christians. U.S. President Donald Trump has added to the combustibility blaming Nigeria's government for letting Christians bear the brunt of the violence. Nigerian officials say Muslims and Christians are both suffering. It is not about religion. It is about what is happening in the larger region, the terrorist activities. Sometimes ransoms get paid and some children return home. Others are rescued but hundreds of others have remained missing for years. Chris Brown, CBC News, London.

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