International Outcry Over Nigerian School Abductions
Hundreds of concerned demonstrators gathered outside the Nigerian embassy in Madrid on Saturday, voicing their alarm over the escalating wave of attacks and kidnappings targeting schoolchildren in Nigeria. The protest was directly triggered by the recent abduction of more than 250 students from a Catholic school in northern Nigeria, an event that has sent shockwaves through the international community.
Voices from the Madrid Demonstration
Christiana Wariboko, the president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, stood before the crowd and made a passionate appeal for international intervention. "We're standing on behalf of Christians, representing Nigerian Christians," she declared. "Please intervene and do something as it regards the killings of Nigerian Christians." Her words highlighted the religious dimension that many protesters associate with the ongoing crisis.
This demonstration in Spain's capital coincided with a broader pattern of violence within Nigeria. In a separate incident, a predominantly Muslim school in Kebbi State was raided, resulting in the abduction of 30 students. These students were later released by authorities. Security analysts observing these trends often link such attacks to financial motives, pointing out that schools are frequently targeted because they typically have inadequate security measures in place.
Global Reactions and Government Response
The protest in Madrid occurs against a backdrop of heightened international attention. Notably, US President Donald Trump has issued statements threatening military action in Nigeria, citing perceived persecution of Christians by Islamist groups. However, Nigerian authorities have cautioned that such characterizations oversimplify a complex security landscape and fail to acknowledge the government's ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom.
In response to the rising number of attacks, President Bola Tinubu recently declared a state of emergency and expanded police deployments. This move is part of an attempt to curb the insecurity that has plagued the nation's educational institutions. A grim statistic underscores the severity of the situation: since 2014, Nigeria has witnessed at least twelve mass abductions, with over 1,700 students taken. Tragically, some of these children have never been recovered.
Frustrated Parents Protest Government Inaction
Meanwhile, within Nigeria itself, despair and frustration are turning into public action. Parents of students abducted from St. Mary Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, also staged a protest on Saturday. They are accusing the government of negligence in securing the release of their children and teachers.
The pupils and staff have now endured eight days in captivity following the attack by armed men on November 21. In that assault, over 300 pupils and 12 teachers were taken. While about 50 pupils managed to escape after two days, the remainder are still being held by their captors.
In a powerful display of their anguish, over 200 parents gathered at the school to formally register themselves and their missing wards. They expressed deep frustration that neither state nor federal government representatives had visited the families since the abduction occurred. Their placards conveyed desperate messages: "Bring Back Our Girls," "Our Girls and Teachers Are Still in Captivity," and "Is Education a Crime?"
Rev. Fr. Stephen Okafor, the school’s Director of Communication, explained that the registration was necessary following government instructions. He noted that many parents had travelled for up to four hours to participate. Another diocesan priest, Fr. Linus Arege, confirmed that 215 parents had registered under the supervision of local and diocesan officials.
Some parents directed sharp criticism at the government for its initial response. Joseph Dimas, whose son Julius was abducted, stated, "The truth is that my child and others were abducted. The government should act and come to our aid instead of saying what is not true." Emmanuel Ejeh, whose son Mathias was also taken, noted with sadness that past graduates of the school had never experienced such a violent attack.
The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, expressed a glimmer of hope that the registration process would help facilitate the safe return of the remaining victims. "It is eight days now since their abduction; we have not heard anything yet. We are still very hopeful of their return, and we are prayerful," he said. He added that the school serves over 50 communities, making the collection of parental information a significant logistical effort.
The school’s Principal, Rev. Sis. Felicia Gyam, and Headmistress, Blessing Amodu, described the ongoing distress caused by the incident. Gyam stressed that there had been no prior warning of the attack, while Amodu made a heartfelt appeal for all stakeholders to assist in rescuing the children and staff, emphasizing that the entire community is holding its breath, waiting for their safe return.
