Nigeria's government is making no meaningful effort to rescue more than 250 children abducted from a Catholic boarding school in the central state of Niger last Friday, according to the main Catholic cleric in the region, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna.
Bishop Yohanna's accusation has sparked a heated debate, with the state's police chief countering that the school has not cooperated adequately with search operations.
The abduction in Papiri village at St Mary's school follows a troubling trend of kidnappings by criminal gangs in Nigeria, predominantly for ransom.
Amidst the turmoil, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention if Nigeria's government fails to take substantial action against violence targeting Christians.
Nigeria stands as Africa's most populous nation, its Christian and Muslim communities often entangled in socio-political conflicts. The government claims that insecurity affects all groups, regardless of faith.
The police chief of Niger state, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, insists adequate security forces are present despite appearances, stating that they have been deployed from a nearby police base.
President Bola Tinubu has recently cancelled international engagements in light of the ongoing abduction crises, with previous kidnappings from schools leading to extensive closures across the country as parents prioritize their children's safety.
