Nigeria's Alarm: Over 300 Students Taken in Shocking School Abduction

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Nigeria is grappling with one of its most severe mass abductions yet. Over 300 students and teachers were snatched from a Catholic school in Niger state. This number, confirmed by the Christian Association of Nigeria, is even higher than initially thought. It's a grim reminder of the 2014 Chibok kidnapping that shook the world. The attack happened early Friday morning. Armed men stormed St. Mary's School in Papiri, catching everyone off guard. Parents are devastated, with one woman desperately pleading for her nieces' safe return. Police are on high alert, searching forests to rescue the abducted students. This isn't an isolated incident. Just this week, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Kebbi state, and a church attack in Kwara state left two dead and 38 abducted. President Bola Tinubu has postponed his trips to focus on these security issues. Schools are closing, but the fear and anger among Nigerians are growing. The problem of kidnappings for ransom is widespread. Despite laws banning ransom payments, the practice continues, funding these criminal gangs. Analysts point out that while some attacks are driven by religious tensions, many are about resources like land and water. Back in 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from Chibok. The world rallied for their return, but many are still missing. This time, the scale is even larger, and the stakes are higher. The question on everyone's mind is: when will these abductions stop?