The U.S. has strongly condemned the latest wave of mass kidnappings in Niger and Kebbi states. It described the attacks as unacceptable and urged immediate action from the Nigerian government to halt them.
The warning came in a statement from the Bureau of African Affairs on Monday, which said the increasing attacks on schools and Christian communities needed immediate and decisive measures.
This is a statement that seems to be deeply concerned. It references the kidnapping of over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State; it also condemns the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
Both attacks happened within days.
The brutality shocked many Nigerians and elicited fresh global alarm.
The US insisted that criminals must be brought to book. It said the perpetrators should be tracked, captured, and prosecuted without delay.
The statement also warned that the safety of schools was now dangerously fragile.
But the message to the Nigerian government was even stronger.
The US said Nigeria must take concrete action. It said the country has a duty to protect Christians and to guarantee freedom of worship. It insisted that citizens need to be able to live, learn, and practice their faith in safety.
The statement reflected earlier concerns from Washington about attacks on churches and Christian institutions in the north.
The warning came as updates emerged from Niger State. Fifty pupils who escaped from St. Mary’s Catholic School returned home over the weekend. School authorities said they had confirmed their safe return.
They said the children fled between Friday and Saturday after gaining the chance to escape.
They did not return directly to the school. Instead, administrators traced their families and verified their safety.
The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, gave an update in detail.
He said the escape brought some relief, but urged Nigerians to continue praying for the remaining victims. His media aide, Daniel Atori, confirmed the numbers.
The school is still holding 251 primary pupils, 14 secondary students, and 12 teachers. This figure includes three children belonging to staff members.
The numbers from the school paint a grim picture. St. Mary’s has 430 primary pupils. Of that number, 377 are boarders while 53 are day students. After the attack, 141 pupils were not taken.
However, 236 pupils, three staff children, 14 secondary students, and 12 staff members remain with the abductors. The scale of the kidnapping has made it one of the largest in recent years.
Another violent school attack also occurred in Kebbi State. Armed bandits stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga.
They kidnapped 25 students, killed one staff member and injured another. The incident was confirmed by the police spokesman, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi.
These attacks follow years of worsening insecurity across northern Nigeria and revive painful memories of Chibok, Dapchi, Kagara, and the countless smaller raids on schools and villages.
Pressure has piled on the Nigerian government. Local communities say they feel abandoned.
Many believe the state has lost control of rural security. The US statement now amplifies those concerns on the global stage.
A comment by US signals rising international impatience.
It shows that the world is watching Nigeria’s response closely and also increases the pressure on Abuja to deliver a credible rescue effort.
The Nigerian government is yet to issue a detailed reaction to the US statement, but the demand for stronger security measures is getting louder.
The mass kidnappings have revived fears nationwide: parents are frightened, schools are anxious, and Christian communities feel targeted.
The US message adds diplomatic weight to these fears and demands urgent action from Abuja before the crisis gets worse.