Nigerian School Kidnapping: A Father's Heartbreak and Call for Action

Wed Nov 26 2025 04:44:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A father's harrowing account of witnessing his son's abduction during a mass kidnapping at a Nigerian boarding school highlights the urgent need for improved security measures in a region plagued by violence.

In a chilling incident that has left many parents in distress, a father named Theo described the moment he watched helplessly as armed men abducted dozens of children, including his own son, from St Mary's Catholic boarding school in Niger State, Nigeria. The tragic event, occurring early Friday morning, has sparked outrage over the government’s inadequate response to security threats in the region. Families are pressing for action as the crisis unfolds, with community leaders warning of rising dangers in northern Nigeria.

A father has told the BBC that he felt powerless as he witnessed gunmen on motorbikes abduct dozens of children, including his son, after storming a Catholic boarding school in northern Nigeria in the early hours of Friday.

The father, who has asked to remain anonymous as Theo for safety reasons, reported being awoken by the sounds of distress as the gunmen passed by his home with the children they had seized from St Mary's school in Papiri village in Niger state.

They [the children] were being trafficked on foot the way shepherds control their herds. Some children were falling and the men would kick them and instruct them to stand up, he recounted.

The gunmen were on about 50 motorcycle bikes while controlling them, Theo stated. He felt a sense of urgency to intervene but quickly realized the danger of doing so. Even if I did go, what could I do? I couldn't do anything, he lamented.

According to the Christian Association of Nigeria, 303 students and 12 staff members were abducted during the incident. Although 50 children managed to escape, the report indicated that police only acknowledged a few escaping on the night of the abduction. Governor Umar Bago stated the total number of abductees had been exaggerated, blaming the school for remaining operational despite previous threats of violence.

The situation has left families in turmoil, with parents camping outside the school in protest of the government’s reaction. Our children were kidnapped but the government doesn't seem to pay attention to it, Theo expressed in frustration.

A mother described her heartbreak over the loss of her only son, pleading for assistance. Another parent, Lucas, shared relief at the escape of his youngest child amidst the chaos (Next paragraph to follow)...

The abduction at St Mary's school represents a broader trend of kidnappings in northern Nigeria, with recent attacks reported in nearby regions. In response, President Bola Tinubu postponed a trip to the G20 summit prioritizing the crisis at home. Calls for effective action against the rampant violence are growing as citizens grapple with insecurity.