Story perspectives

Over 250 Children Kidnapped in Nigeria: National Emergency Declared

11/30/2025

Summary

Story summary

More than 250 children have been kidnapped in Nigeria, including at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
The Nigerian government attributes the kidnappings to Boko Haram and ISWAP, while analysts point to bandits.
The wave has produced multiple attacks on schools and churches over two weeks, heightening safety concerns.
President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency and plans to recruit 20,000 additional police.

History

Historical Context

The 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria, marked a significant escalation in the group's violent campaign against Western education, which they oppose. This incident followed a state of emergency declared in 2013 due to rising insurgency-related violence, with Boko Haram responsible for nearly 4,000 deaths that year. The global #BringBackOurGirls movement emerged, highlighting the urgent need for effective countermeasures against such extremist threats.

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Story summary

More than 250 children have been kidnapped in Nigeria, including at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
The Nigerian government attributes the kidnappings to Boko Haram and ISWAP, while analysts point to bandits.
The wave has produced multiple attacks on schools and churches over two weeks, heightening safety concerns.
President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency and plans to recruit 20,000 additional police.

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