In a shocking incident, gunmen have abducted more than 300 students and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, marking one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria's history. The attack occurred early on Friday, with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reporting that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken. This figure was revised upwards from an initial estimate of 215 following a verification exercise. The kidnapped students, aged between 10 and 18, represent nearly half of the school's total enrolment of 629. The incident has raised significant security concerns in a country already grappling with a history of school abductions. Just days prior, 25 girls were kidnapped from a secondary school in neighbouring Kebbi state. Niger state Governor Mohammed Umar Bago confirmed that authorities are conducting a headcount and have ordered the closure of all schools in the state as a precautionary measure. This decision follows the directive from the national education ministry to shut down 47 boarding secondary schools across the country. In a video shared by CAN, a distressed staff member described the chaos during the attack, stating, "Children were crying," as she searched for keys to secure the premises. The attackers reportedly operated for nearly three hours, moving through dormitories and causing widespread panic. Local residents expressed their shock and frustration over the security situation. Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school but were not abducted, lamented, "Everybody is weak… it took everyone by surprise." Another parent, Stella Shaibu, whose daughter was collected from a nearby school, questioned the government's ability to protect its citizens, saying, "How can 300 students be taken away at the same time?" The Nigerian government has not yet commented on the abductions, but the situation has drawn international attention. US President Donald Trump recently threatened military intervention in Nigeria, citing the killing of Christians by radical Islamists. This has prompted calls from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities. The ongoing crisis highlights the persistent threat posed by armed gangs in Nigeria, who often target schools for ransom. Despite the lack of a claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the trend of school kidnappings has become alarmingly common in the region. As authorities mobilise local hunters and tactical squads to rescue the abducted students, the community remains on high alert, grappling with the fear and uncertainty that such violence brings.