As the United States continues to warn about what it describes as a quiet “Christian genocide” in Nigeria — characterization Nigerian officials are repeatedly lobbying against — armed groups are pressing on with even more attacks.

On Thursday, gunmen abducted students and staff of St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.

The exact number of those kidnapped is yet to be confirmed. A source told journalists on Friday that the school was still compiling its records.

“Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later in the day,” the source said.

Efforts to reach the Niger State Police Command failed at the time of filing this report. The spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to calls.

Tinubu Deploys Defence Minister to Kebbi

The Niger abduction comes days after terrorists attacked a government school in Kebbi State, abducting at least 25 students.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State to coordinate rescue operations for the schoolgirls kidnapped earlier in the week.

The girls were taken at about 4 a.m. on Monday from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Sakaba Local Government Area.

Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, is expected to remain in Birnin Kebbi to monitor rescue efforts and provide direct updates to the President.

Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga said Matawalle’s deployment aligns with his experience managing banditry and mass kidnappings during his tenure as governor between 2019 and 2023.

One of the most notorious incidents under his watch occurred on February 26, 2021, when 279 female students were abducted from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe.

Tinubu had earlier postponed his trip to Johannesburg for the G20 Summit and to Luanda for the AU‑EU Summit to receive security briefings on the Kebbi abductions and Tuesday’s attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

Kwara Governor Confirms 900 Troops Deployed

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Tinubu has sent over 900 troops to the state following the Eruku church attack.

Speaking in Ilorin during a meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and residents of Eruku, the governor said: “Our government has put in place different security arrangements to put schools and places of worship in the Southern part under elevated surveillance for maximum safety.”

He added: “There is also a strong mobilisation of members of the Nigerian Army into Eruku. With the intervention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over 900 additional troops have been sent to Kwara State.”

AbdulRazaq said the government would not leave any stone unturned to restore calm in Eruku. He praised CAN for its prayers and response to the attack.

He also promised road repairs and advocated for the dualisation of the Ilorin–Kabba highway, citing its strategic importance to the North Central region.

National Reactions

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) condemned the abduction of Kebbi students and the Eruku church attack. Deputy Director Paul Odenyi said the acts undermine national efforts to promote access to education, especially for the girl‑child.

Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), called for a total re‑engineering of Nigeria’s security architecture. He urged stronger intelligence gathering, improved logistics, and collaboration with non‑state actors.

He described the Eruku attack as “one attack too many.”

Former Minister of Information Lai Mohammed also condemned the incident. “It is with deep sorrow that I received the heartbreaking news of the brutal attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku – an attack that claimed precious lives and left an entire community shaken to its core,” he said.

“This gruesome assault on innocent worshippers is not only a tragedy for the bereaved families but a painful wound on the entire country. I am devastated by this senseless loss of life. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have been thrown into mourning, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to them in this moment of immeasurable grief.”

But the opposition is piling pressure on the government to do more and secure lives of Nigerians. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) urged Tinubu to temporarily relocate the seat of power to Kebbi State and other conflict zones, rather than designate junior officials.

National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said: “As President and Commander‑in‑Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not recline in the comfort of the Presidential Villa at a time when 25 schoolgirls have been abducted and their whereabouts remain unknown. He must demonstrate leadership by leading from the front, as true leaders do in moments of grave national challenge.”

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