Nigeria’s government is facing criticism from the Catholic Church after more than 250 students were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri village, Niger State, last Friday.
Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the leading Catholic cleric in the region, told the BBC that the authorities have made “no meaningful effort” to rescue the children, despite national outrage over the mass kidnapping.
However, the state’s police commissioner rejected the accusation, insisting that rescue efforts are underway. He claimed the school has not fully cooperated with the security agencies involved in the search operation.
The identity of the abductors remains uncertain, though criminal gangs known for kidnapping-for-ransom activities have been responsible for similar attacks across Nigeria.
The incident has also drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump warning that the United States may consider military intervention if the Nigerian government fails to stop what he described as “the killing of Christians.”
The kidnapping adds to growing frustration over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, particularly in northern and central regions where armed groups frequently target schools, villages, and travelers.
