Nigeria School Kidnapping Highlights Urgent Need for Extra Security for Christian Institutions

Terrorism Desk, Delhi Magazine:

The recent mass kidnapping at Saint Mary Catholic School in Niger State has once again exposed the serious security risks faced by Christian institutions in northern and central Nigeria. More than 300 students and teachers were abducted in one of the largest school kidnappings in recent years. Although several victims escaped and some were later released, many were held for days in captivity.

This incident is not isolated. Over the past decade, Christian schools, churches and clergy members have repeatedly been targeted across different parts of Nigeria.

In June 2022, a deadly attack took place inside a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo State, during Sunday Mass. More than 40 worshippers were killed when gunmen and explosives struck the church. The incident shocked the entire nation and drew international condemnation.

Christian clergy have also been frequent victims of abductions and killings. Multiple Catholic priests have been kidnapped in states such as Kaduna, Benue, Imo and Niger in recent years. While some were released after ransom payments, several priests have been killed during or after abduction attempts. These cases are officially documented by Nigerian police and international human rights organisations.

Christian communities living in rural and remote areas are particularly vulnerable. Many of these villages lack permanent police posts, military presence and proper road connectivity. Churches and boarding schools are open institutions with predictable routines, making them easy targets for armed gangs and extremist elements.

Security analysts agree that while many kidnappings in Nigeria are criminal and ransom-driven, Christian institutions often emerge as repeated targets because they operate in weakly protected zones. The combination of religious vulnerability, rural isolation and limited state presence creates a dangerous environment for Christian civilians.

As the crisis continues to grow, the concern has reached the global stage, with the White House sharing a statement calling for urgent action to protect Christians in Nigeria.

"I would like to thank @POTUS for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria." – @NICKIMINAJ pic.twitter.com/gi8bLtF1Qt

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 18, 2025

The Saint Mary School kidnapping clearly demonstrates why extra security for Christian schools and churches is urgently needed. This does not mean special treatment, but enhanced protection where risks are visibly higher. Permanent armed security for boarding schools, regular military patrols in minority regions, surveillance around churches, and rapid-response anti-kidnapping units can significantly reduce future attacks.

Until the Nigerian state fully regains control over bandit-dominated forests and conflict-affected rural regions, targeted protection for vulnerable Christian institutions remains one of the most immediate and practical steps to prevent further mass abductions and loss of innocent lives.

The safety of students, teachers and worshippers must become a national security priority. The Saint Mary kidnapping should serve as a final warning that delay in action will only lead to more tragedies.