Bishop Condemns Nigerian Government's Inaction in Schoolchildren Abduction

Wed Nov 26 2025 04:52:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent statement, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna criticized the Nigerian government for lacking meaningful efforts to rescue over 250 children abducted from St. Mary's Catholic school. His remarks have ignited a debate over the efficacy of local authorities during crisis situations.

Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Niger state has publicly called out the Nigerian government for failing to take significant action towards rescuing the over 250 children taken from a Catholic boarding school. While the police chief disputes his claims, suggesting a lack of cooperation from the school, the abduction has reignited concerns over security in the region.

Nigeria's government is making no meaningful effort to rescue more than 250 children abducted from a Catholic boarding school in the central state of Niger last Friday, the main Catholic cleric in the region has told the BBC.

But Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna's accusation was disputed by the state's police chief, who accused the school of failing to co-operate with its search and rescue operations.

It is unclear who abducted the children from St Mary's school in Papiri village, but criminal gangs have been involved in kidnappings for ransom across Nigeria.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene militarily in Nigeria if the government fails to stop the killing of Christians.

Nigeria is the most-populous state in Africa, with a large Christian and Muslim population. Its government states that people of all faiths and none are victims of the ongoing insecurity in the country. Militant Islamist groups are also waging an insurgency, further complicating the security landscape.

The Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reports that 303 students and 12 members of staff were abducted, although 50 children managed to escape and have returned home.

Bishop Yohanna, who leads the Catholic church in the region, emphasized that the only official action taken so far to address the crisis has been to compile a list of the students. He refuted claims made by local officials that the church had ignored closure orders due to threats of attack.

The situation remains dire, with concerns about the government's capacity to protect schools, leading many to close their doors as parents withdraw their children amidst fears for their safety.