Children Taken from Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State

A father, referred to as Theo for safety, recounted the traumatic experience of witnessing gunmen abduct dozens of children, including his son, from St Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger state, Nigeria. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported 303 students and staff were taken, though the state governor claimed this number was exaggerated. Parents are frustrated with the government’s response and have been camping outside the school, feeling abandoned. The spate of kidnappings has prompted school closures across Nigeria, raising concerns over safety and government accountability.

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