Armed males abduct kids and employees at a Catholic faculty in Nigeria, days after newest abduction

[ad_1] ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Armed males attacked a Catholic boarding faculty in a western area of Nigeria and kidnapped a number of schoolchildren and employees early Friday, the newest in a spate of abductions in Africa’s most populous nation that got here simply days after 25 schoolgirls were abducted in a neighboring state.

The assault and abductions occurred at St. Mary’s College, a Catholic establishment in Agwara native authorities’s Papiri group, stated Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger state authorities. He didn't disclose the variety of college students and employees kidnapped, nor who may be chargeable for the assault.

Native media broadcaster Come up TV stated 52 schoolchildren had been kidnapped.

The Niger State Police Command stated the abductions occurred within the early hours of Friday and that army and safety forces have since been deployed to the group. It described St. Mary’s as a secondary faculty, which in Nigeria would serve kids between the ages of 12 and 17.

A satellite tv for pc view exhibits the varsity compound is hooked up to an adjoining major faculty, with over 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. It's positioned close to a significant street linking the cities of Yelwa and Mokwa.

The assertion by the secretary to the Niger state authorities stated the incident occurred regardless of prior intelligence warning of heightened threats.

“Regrettably, St. Mary’s College proceeded to reopen and resume tutorial actions with out notifying or in search of clearance from the State Authorities, thereby exposing pupils and the employees to avoidable danger,” it learn.

Umar Yunus, a Papiri resident, stated there have been solely native safety preparations and no official police or authorities forces securing the varsity on the time of the assault on Friday.

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora stated in a press release {that a} safety staffer was “badly shot” in the course of the assault.

The abductions occurred days after gunmen on Monday attacked a highschool and kidnapped 25 schoolgirls within the neighboring Kebbi state, in Maga, round 170 km (105 miles) from Papiri. One of many women later escaped and is protected, the varsity’s principal stated.

In a separate assault on Monday in Kwara state, which borders Niger state, armed males attacked a church, killing 2 people . Through the assault, 38 worshippers had been additionally kidnapped, Femi Agbabiaka, secretary of the Christ Apostolic Church, instructed The Related Press on Friday. He stated the armed males are demanding a ransom of 100 million naira ($69,000), for every of the abductees.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu postponed his journey to this weekend’s Group of 20 summit in South Africa in mild of Monday’s abductions and the assault on the church.

“We are going to use each instrument of the state to carry these women residence and to make sure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the complete weight of justice,” Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima stated throughout a go to to Kebbi state on Wednesday.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assaults in Niger and Kebbi state, however analysts and locals say gangs typically goal faculties, vacationers and distant villagers in kidnappings for ransom. Authorities say the gunmen are principally former herders who've taken up arms in opposition to farming communities after clashes between them over strained sources.

Abductions have come to outline the insecurity prevailing in Africa’s most populous nation.

No less than 1,500 students have been kidnapped within the area since Boko Haram jihadi extremists seized 276 Chibok schoolgirls greater than a decade in the past. However bandits are additionally lively within the area, and analysts say gangs typically goal faculties to realize consideration.

Nigeria was not too long ago thrust into the highlight after U.S. President Donald Trump singled the nation out, stating that Christians are being persecuted — an allegation that the federal government rejected.

Whereas Christians are amongst these focused, analysts say the vast majority of victims of armed teams are Muslims in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north, the place most assaults happen.

Analysts and residents blame the insecurity on a failure to prosecute recognized attackers, and the rampant corruption that limits weapons provides to safety forces whereas making certain a gentle provide to the gangs.

Yohanna Buru, a pastor and head of the Peace Revival And Reconciliation Basis, a corporation centered on interfaith dialogue, referred to as on authorities to extend safety round faculties in areas affected by the safety disaster.

“If the federal government was doing sufficient, then rampant kidnapping all around the nation wouldn't have occur,” he stated. “It’s as in the event that they don’t care about the way forward for our kids.”

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Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal; Mohammed Ibrahim in Kaduna, Nigeria, additionally contributed to this report.

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