US Issues Strong Warning As School Abductions Escalate In Nigeria.

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The United States government yesterday called on the Federal Government to urgently ensure that those responsible for the abductions of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger states are tracked down and prosecuted without delay. This came shortly after the Presidency revealed that Washington had agreed to set up a joint working group with Nigeria to strengthen counterterrorism operations and deepen security collaboration.

US, Nigeria Seal Fresh Security Pact Against Terror

According to the Presidency, the partnership will help accelerate Nigeria’s pending requests for defence equipment while improving intelligence sharing between both nations. This development followed confirmation from the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora in Niger State that of the 265 victims still missing, 239 are nursery and primary school pupils who remain in captivity in the forest.

Amnesty International Nigeria also raised an alarm, warning that the continuous wave of school kidnappings could seriously damage educational progress across northern Nigeria. In a statement posted by the US Bureau of African Affairs, Washington condemned the kidnappings in Kebbi and Niger and urged Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to safeguard citizens, including Christians, from such attacks.

The statement read: “The United States condemns the mass abduction of reportedly over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria and the kidnapping, just days before, of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. Those responsible for these crimes must be swiftly captured and held accountable. The Nigerian government must act decisively and do more to protect Christians and ensure Nigerians can live, learn and practise their religion freely without fear or terror.”

The abductions took place only days apart. On 17 November, gunmen attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, killing the vice principal, Hassan Makuku, before abducting at least 25 students. Four days later, on 21 November, armed men invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapping 303 students and 12 teachers. The Christian Association of Nigeria later confirmed the figures after conducting an audit of missing persons, and noted that 50 students successfully escaped and reunited with their families.

US Pledges Faster Arms Delivery And Stronger Intel Support

The Presidency said Nigeria and the United States agreed to redouble their joint efforts against terrorism after a series of high-level meetings held in Washington last week. The Nigerian delegation was led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and included the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oloyede; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye; the Special Adviser to the NSA, Idayat Hassan; and the Director of Foreign Relations in the NSA’s office, Ibrahim Babani.

On the American side, officials from the Congress, State Department, National Security Council, Department of War and the White House Faith Office participated in the discussions. Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the US reiterated its readiness to expand security support to Nigeria by improving intelligence sharing, fast-tracking the processing of defence equipment requests and potentially supplying excess defence hardware where available.

He added that the US also promised humanitarian support for affected communities and committed to helping Nigeria strengthen systems for early detection of security threats. Both countries have agreed to execute a non-binding cooperation framework immediately and form a joint working group to coordinate upcoming actions. Onanuga added that Nigeria used the meetings to correct what it described as “misconceptions” regarding the security situation in the country, pointing out that claims of genocide were unfounded and that violence affects people across various religious and ethnic groups.

239 Pupils Still Missing In Niger — Diocese Confirms

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora confirmed that out of the 265 individuals still unaccounted for, 239 are nursery and primary school children. The others include 14 secondary school students and 12 staff members. The Diocese stated that the abductors had not contacted the school, the families or government authorities, leaving the exact status and location of the victims unclear. It noted that around 50 pupils managed to flee in the early hours of their forced movement into the forest.

A detailed record released by the Diocese showed that the majority of those missing are from nursery and lower primary classes. The church noted that the bandits had still not opened any line of communication, increasing anxiety among parents and the wider community.

NLC: School Attacks Threaten Nigeria’s Future

The Niger State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress condemned the abductions, describing them as a brutal attack on education and the future of children. The state chairman of the NLC, Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene, said the assault was an affront to humanity and urged all security agencies, including the police, DSS, military and local vigilantes, to intensify rescue operations.

He appealed to both federal and state governments to provide the necessary logistics, intelligence and resources to ensure the safe rescue of all abducted pupils and staff. The NLC also encouraged community and religious leaders to promote peace, supply relevant information and support affected families. Lafene stressed that education is the backbone of national development, adding that any attack on schoolchildren is an attack on the country’s collective future.

Survivor Shares Chilling Account Of Kwara Church Attack

A survivor of the assault on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, described the experience as horrific. The attack, which occurred on the evening of 18 November, resulted in the death of two people and the abduction of 38 worshippers, all of whom regained their freedom on Sunday. Speaking with TVC, the survivor, who chose to remain anonymous, said the gunmen struck shortly after the service began.

He recounted that about 30 minutes into the programme, he heard a loud noise which he initially thought was an electrical spark. However, gunshots soon followed, and the attackers surrounded the entire church. He said the captives were later moved deep into a forest dominated by the kidnappers, who told them escape was impossible because they controlled the terrain completely and knew every route linking forests between Kwara and neighbouring states.

Amnesty Raises Alarm Over Rising Threat To Northern Schools

Amnesty International Nigeria cautioned that the increasing pattern of school kidnappings is pushing northern Nigeria towards a severe educational disaster. Isa Sanusi, the Country Director, told Channels Television that both fear and trauma from these attacks may force thousands of children out of school.

He explained that many families in rural areas were already battling economic hardship, making it difficult to keep their children in school, and worsening insecurity would only heighten the problem. He added that fear of attacks would further reduce school attendance, weakening the region’s education system. Sanusi warned that if the crisis persists, a whole generation may be deprived of education, stressing that with over 12 million children already out of school, the situation could become even more dire.