At Least 52 Students and Teachers Kidnapped in Nigeria’s Second Mass Abduction This Week

Incident Overview

In the latest wave of school attacks sweeping northern Nigeria, armed gunmen stormed a Catholic secondary school in Jigawa State early Tuesday morning, abducting at least 52 individuals—including both pupils and teachers. The perpetrators fled the scene before security forces could intervene, leaving the campus in disarray.

How the Attack Unfolded

According to eyewitnesses, the assailants arrived in several vehicles, shouting commands in the local language while brandishing firearms. “They broke the school gates and shouted for everyone to line up,” one survivor recounted. Within minutes, the gunmen seized the children and staff, herding them onto waiting trucks and disappearing into the surrounding bushland.

Victims and Immediate Response

Initial reports confirm that the kidnapped group comprises 38 students aged between 12 and 18, along with 14 teachers and support staff. Local authorities have launched a rapid‑response operation, deploying police, army units, and a specialized anti‑kidnapping task force to track the abductors.

Government and International Reaction

The federal government condemned the incident, with the Minister of Education stating, “We will spare no effort to bring back every child and educator safely.” International partners, including the United Nations and several NGOs, have called for urgent action to protect schools and reinforce security in the region.

Broader Context

This kidnapping marks the second large‑scale school raid in Nigeria within a single week, following a similar attack that left over 80 children missing last Friday. Analysts warn that the frequency of such incidents underscores a growing security vacuum in the country’s northern states, where armed groups exploit weak policing and porous borders.

What Comes Next

Authorities are urging families of the abducted to remain calm while they gather intelligence. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are preparing to provide support to the school community, including counseling services for traumatized students and staff.