NASUWT - The Teachers' Union condemns the shocking abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Niger State, Nigeria. Armed men stormed the school on 21 November, taking 303 students and 12 teachers. While around 50 children have since escaped, more than 250 children and all 12 teachers remain captive.

This attack is one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria since an abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in 2014. It has left families devastated and communities living in fear, with schools across Niger State forced to close indefinitely. The trauma for children, parents, and teachers is immeasurable, and the disruption to education is profound.

Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, are pressing Nigerian authorities to secure the hostages and protect schools from further violence. The United Nations has reiterated that attacks on education are a grave violation of children’s rights and must be met with accountability.

This kidnapping is part of a wider pattern of violence against education in Nigeria, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted schools to spread fear and undermine communities. Such attacks are not only crimes against the individuals taken, but against the principle of education itself. They strike at the heart of the belief that every child deserves the chance to learn free from fear.

The Union stands in solidarity with Nigerian teachers, students, and families. Education is a fundamental right, and schools must be safe places for children to learn free from fear and violence. We call for the immediate and safe release of all abducted children and staff, and for international pressure to ensure that schools are protected from future attacks.