Second School Abduction Reported in a Week as Violence Against Education Escalates

Abuja, Nigeria, 21 November 2025 – Save the Children is deeply alarmed and concerned by reports of another attack on a school in northern Nigeria. According to sources, armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, in the early hours of Friday and abducted students and staff. The exact number is still being confirmed, but early reports suggest an estimated 52 pupils may have been abducted.

This attack happened just days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. It is hard to comprehend what might be going through the minds of parents right now as they hope for their children’s safe return. No parent should endure this pain. No child should face this terror simply for wanting an education.

These attacks show how insecurity is spreading and why urgent action is needed.

Next week, Nigeria will join other countries at the Fifth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Nairobi, Kenya.  The conference will mark a decade of global commitment to protect education during armed conflict and adopt the Nairobi Action Plan, a renewed roadmap to ensure schools remain safe havens for learning. Today’s tragedy must be a wake-up call. Commitments on paper are not enough; children need protection now. Duncan Harvey, Country Director, Save the Children, Nigeria

The attack in Papiri, Niger State, is not an isolated event but part of a broader regional crisis. Armed groups operating in Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara share logistical routes through the Kuyambana–Kamuku forest axis. In addition to the 2 high-profile abductions, dozens of other people have been abducted this month in these 3 states.

We commend the swift deployment of police tactical units, military personnel, and other security agencies to rescue the abducted students. However, we urge the government to intensify efforts to ensure the safe return of all victims and to implement sustainable measures that guarantee the safety of schools, in line with the Safe Schools Declaration commitment.

We call on the Federal Government and State authorities to:

Act urgently to secure the immediate release of the abducted students and hold perpetrators accountable.

Scale up security measures around schools in high-risk areas, including the implementation of early warning systems, community-based protection, and rapid response mechanisms.

Strengthen the implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, ensuring that every school is a protected space for learning.

Invest in long-term solutions that address root causes of insecurity, including poverty, youth unemployment, and weak governance structures.

Reports of repeated school attacks show a growing threat to school children’s safety. Between 2014 and 2022, Nigeria recorded 70 school attacks, 1,683 learners abducted, 184 killed, and 25 school buildings destroyed. While incidents had declined in recent years, this month alone has seen two major abductions, since March 2024, when more than 200 pupils were taken from Kuriga, Kaduna State.

Urgent and coordinated action is needed now to prevent these attacks from becoming a dangerous norm.

The time to act is now. Schools must be safe places for learning; no child should risk their life to learn.

ENDS

For media inquiries, please contact:  Mogbonjubade Adesulure

mogbonjubade.adesulure@savethechildren.org