Nigeria’s security chiefs say they are making progress in rescuing hundreds of schoolchildren who were kidnapped by armed men in recent attacks across the country.
On Sunday, top military leaders met President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Abuja to brief him on ongoing rescue operations. The meeting came after a surge in kidnappings targeting schools and churches in northern and central Nigeria.
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria, at least 303 students and 12 teachers were taken when gunmen stormed St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger State. The updated number is far higher than the earlier figure of 215.
Major General Waidi Shaib, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, said 50 children managed to escape and have been safely reunited with their families. He assured the public that troops, supported by local hunters and special tactical squads, are still searching for the others.
In another attack, 38 worshippers were kidnapped from the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town, Kwara State, where two people were killed. General Shaib confirmed that all 38 victims have now been freed and returned to their families, calling it “very good positive news.”
The attack on St. Mary’s School in Niger State happened just four days after 25 students were kidnapped in nearby Kebbi State, about 170 kilometres away. Security forces say they expect updates soon from that operation as well.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for any of the kidnappings. In recent years, armed gangs—often called bandits—have increasingly targeted schools because they draw public attention and can pressure families or the government into paying ransom.
Nigeria has struggled for over a decade with mass school abductions, and many communities fear repeated attacks. A UNICEF report last year showed that only 37% of schools in ten conflict-affected states have early warning systems to detect threats.
The rise in kidnappings is happening at a time when misinformation is spreading globally. US President Donald Trump recently claimed that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria, but Nigerian authorities and human rights groups say the violence affects both Christians and Muslims.
President Tinubu has promised strong action, and military operations have been intensified across the region. But many Nigerians continue to call for deeper reforms to secure schools, protect rural communities, and end the cycle of mass abductions.
