Nigeria Hit by School Abduction and Two Attacks on Christian Communities in Three Days

Nigeria, Nov 21, 2025: Nigeria faced a third violent assault in as many days as armed groups targeted Christian communities and a secondary school across three states, leaving multiple people dead and dozens kidnapped. The attacks, which occurred between 17 and 18 November, prompted President Bola Tinubu to postpone a planned visit to South Africa and Angola in order to monitor the situation and receive security briefings.

A wave of violence gripped the country after more than 20 schoolgirls were abducted on 17 November from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State. Two students escaped during the attack, with one managing to reach home while injured.

Within hours, another armed gang raided Kushe Gugdu, where a priest from the Archdiocese of Kaduna was taken hostage. The following evening, on 18 November, violence spread to Ekiti State when gunmen stormed a Pentecostal church in Eurku, killing two people.

The escalation continued with an assault on the Christ Apostolic Church in Oke Isegun, Kwara State—a region known as a transit corridor between northern and southern Nigeria. Its dense forests, poor road lighting, and limited police presence have made it a haven for militias and criminal groups.

Security footage from inside the church helped authorities reconstruct the sequence of events. Police described the attackers as “bandits,” saying they scaled the fence before opening fire. The pastor instructed parishioners to take cover in a small room, which was then locked, while others hid behind the altar or beneath drapes.

Once inside, the attackers—some masked—collected women’s handbags left behind as people fled and then began searching for hostages. They seized 35 people of varying ages and forced them into the bush. The use of tear gas prevented security forces from entering the church until long after the assault began.

A shootout as the attackers attempted to flee left one man dead, while another body was discovered in the forest during a police search. Survivors reported seeing around 100 bullet casings scattered across the church floor.

In response to the series of attacks, President Tinubu postponed his diplomatic trip and is reviewing security measures to strengthen protection in affected states. Kidnapping has become a burgeoning criminal enterprise in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, and the government is under increasing pressure to restore safety and stability.

Courtesy: Vatican News