A new abduction alarmingly has shaken the north-central region of Nigeria which highlights the constant security issues that affect schools and religious communities. On Friday morning gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community of Agwara in Niger State and kidnapped dozens of teachers and students according to the state police. AP News

Local media reported at least 52 children were abducted however police did not provide a exact number. AP News The kidnapping comes after a similar incident days prior in the neighbouring state of Kebbi State, in which 25 schoolgirls were seized in a raid on a dormitory. AP News+1

What was the cause?
According to a statement issued by the Niger State government, the school raid took place at around 6:00 am when the attackers pushed their way into the school and took the students as well as staff members. Security forces, including police and military have been sent to the region. AP News The kidnapping is a part of a growing trend of school kidnappings on a mass scale and other institutions, particularly in Nigeria’s central and north-west regions where armed gangs frequently take aim at educational institutions. AP News+1

Inquiries about religion and outrage
This incident incident occurred in the school of a Catholic school has heightened the concern of many in Christian groups in Nigeria which feel more at risk of being targeted by recurring assaults on church buildings, Christian communities and other religious establishments. Although authorities insist that many kidnappings are motivated by gangs of criminals, rather than specifically religious motives however the impression of targeted violence continues. APN News+1 Civil society groups have stated that schools associated with religious organizations are often located in rural, less protected zones, which makes them easy to kidnap and less equipped in their defense.

Security contexts that are more general
Analysts believe that kidnappings typically are an element of ransom-driven operation by arm-in-arms “bandits” rather than formal insurgent efforts, but the lines between these are blurred. The gangs profit from a the absence of law enforcement, a the lack of accountability, and the inadequate resources for security services. AP News Since the 2014 abduction scandal that claimed hundreds of schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria has seen more than 1,500 children abducted in similar cases. AP News+1

Pressures and response from the government
The Nigerian government has been under increasing pressure from both sides of the border to enhance security at schools and safeguard vulnerable populations which includes religious minorities. As a result of the recent violence that occurred in authorities in the state of Kwara State shut down schools in several districts, citing security concerns following an attack at a church as well as the kidnapping of children days prior. Reuters A Reuters report claims that the Federal government says that violence is not discriminatory and primarily driven by criminal motives and not an effort to target Christians only; however, some observers believe that the context of faith cannot be discounted due to the nature of the attacks. AP News+1

Implications
The kidnapping at the Catholic school raises a number of urgent questions about the security of schools in remote areas of Nigeria? What security measures are available to staff and students, particularly in schools run by religious institutions? How will the government rebuild trust with communities that have been affected by the frequent attacks? For local and family communities as well as parents the emotional costs are high, a mix of anger, fear and despair when children are taken away often from places they thought to be safe.

Conclusion
The kidnapping at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri is yet another tragic episode in Nigeria’s ongoing crisis of education security. While the primary concern right now is to ensure the safety of the kidnapped pupils and staff, the longer-term problem is ensuring the security of schools that are not exposed to attacks like this again and that religious communities are protected as part of larger human rights and security efforts for the nation. The world is watching as Nigeria is grappling in the face of one of the biggest and most constant threats to safety and education.