By DAYO ADESULU
Washington Calls for Swift Justice After Niger and Kebbi School Kidnappings
The United States government has sharply condemned the recent mass abductions of students and teachers in Niger and Kebbi states, describing the attacks as intolerable crimes that demand immediate action from Nigerian authorities.
The response comes amid growing global concern over the escalating wave of school-targeted violence across northern Nigeria, which has again revived painful memories of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping.
U.S. Demands Accountability
In a statement released Monday through its official X account, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs said the U.S. condemns mass abductions in Nigeria, stressing that the perpetrators must be hunted down and prosecuted without delay.
According to the statement, the attacks represent a serious threat not only to the education sector but also to vulnerable communities—including Christian populations that have repeatedly been targeted in northern states.
The statement read:
“The United States condemns the mass abduction of reportedly over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and the kidnapping, just days before, of 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
“Those responsible for these crimes must be swiftly captured and held accountable. The Nigerian government must act decisively and do more to protect Christians and ensure Nigerians can live, learn, and practice their religion freely without fear or terror.”
Timeline of the Attacks
Kebbi Attack: Vice Principal Killed, Students Taken
The first incident occurred on November 17, when armed men stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
During the attack, the gunmen killed the vice principal, Hassan Makuku, before abducting at least 24 female students.
Local authorities described the operation as coordinated and well-planned, raising fears about the increasing sophistication of criminal networks operating across the region.
Niger State Attack: Over 300 Students and 12 Teachers Abducted
Just four days later, on November 21, attackers raided St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
They abducted 303 students and 12 teachers, according to verified figures later released by the Christian Association of Nigeria following a detailed census of missing individuals.
At least 50 students managed to escape during the chaotic operation and have since reunited with their families.
Rising Violence Echoes Chibok Tragedy
The latest series of abductions has intensified public anxiety as Nigerians recall the 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.
Security analysts warn that the resurgence of mass school kidnappings suggests bandit and extremist groups are expanding their operational reach, especially in rural communities with limited security presence.
The U.S. condemnation of mass abductions in Nigeria adds significant international pressure on Abuja at a time when global leaders are increasingly vocal about religious-targeted violence and attacks on education.
Federal Government Orders Rescue Operations
In reaction to the escalating crisis, President Bola Tinubu has ordered an intensified security response.
On Thursday, he directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State immediately and coordinate the joint rescue mission.
Governments in several states—including Niger, Katsina, Plateau and Bauchi—have also announced the closure of vulnerable schools in high-risk areas to prevent similar attacks.
Meanwhile, security agencies have launched multi-layered operations, combining aerial surveillance and ground troops, to track the abductors across forest routes that stretch across northwestern and north-central Nigeria.
Growing Calls for Better Protection of Schools
Human rights groups, education stakeholders and community leaders have urged the Federal Government to develop a more sustainable school protection framework.
While the Safe Schools Initiative was introduced years ago, critics say implementation has been slow, leaving rural institutions especially exposed.
The U.S. statement reinforces calls for improved intelligence gathering, community-based alert systems, and stronger military operations in bandit-prone zones.
As the search for the abducted students and teachers continues, families remain anxious, and the nation waits for decisive action that will restore confidence in Nigeria’s ability to protect its children.
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