The United States has expressed deep concern over the mass abductions of students and teachers in Nigeria, calling on authorities to safeguard children’s right to education and ensure communities can live without fear of violence.
The condemnation comes in response to the recent kidnapping of over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, just days earlier.
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs emphasized that those responsible must be swiftly apprehended and held accountable. The statement also urged the Nigerian government to take decisive measures to protect Christians and all citizens, ensuring that everyone can live, learn, and practice their faith freely.
U.S. Representative Riley Moore expressed solidarity, stating: “We cannot turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria who are persecuted daily. No one should be targeted for their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.
The attacks on schools in Niger and Kebbi States highlight growing security concerns in Nigeria, particularly the threat of kidnappings for ransom by armed groups in the northwestern and north-central regions. Over the past decade, numerous schools have been targeted, leaving thousands of children displaced and communities traumatized.
Security experts warn that such attacks not only disrupt education but also undermine community stability, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action by federal and state authorities to protect students and educators.
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