The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) aid this Saturday that a verification exercise had revealed that 315 students and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school on Friday, higher than an earlier estimate it gave of 227.
Since the March 2024 abduction of more than 200 students in northern Kaduna state.
Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the (CAN) Chairperson in Niger said he had travelled to the school. He said some students managed to escape but gave no details.
“From our record, 215 pupils and students including 12 teachers were abducted by the terrorists,” Yohanna said in a statement.
Earlier, police and local government officials in Niger state confirmed the kidnapping from St. Mary’s School, but they did not say how many.
Nigeria’s security situation has been under heightened scrutiny since United States (US) President Donald Trump threatened “fast” military action if the country fails to crack down on the killing of Christians.
In the first high-level meeting between the US and Nigeria since Trump’s threat, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth wrote on X that he met Nigeria’s national security advisor on Thursday to discuss the persecution of Christians.
Nigeria’s government says Trump’s claims that Christians face persecution in Nigeria are a misrepresentation.
–Reuters–
