A major security operation involving the military, police, and community vigilantes is underway to locate the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers still missing. The search now stretches across forests and remote routes believed to have been used by the gunmen.

The attack prompted authorities in several states to order immediate school closures, including in Kebbi, Niger, Katsina, Yobe, and Kwara. This came after another incident in Kebbi earlier in the week, where 25 pupils were taken from a boarding school.

President Bola Tinubu has responded by authorizing the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and redeploying officers previously assigned to VIP protection back to core security duties, especially in areas vulnerable to attacks.

Families in Papiri village, where St Mary’s is located, say they feel abandoned as they wait for updates. Many expected a stronger security presence following the abduction, but residents say no additional forces have arrived.

The escape of the 50 children took place between Friday and Saturday and is being described as a courageous and risky effort to break free from their captors. The mass kidnapping is one of the largest in Nigeria’s history, surpassing even the Chibok school abduction of 2014.

Local officials say armed men entered the school around 2am on Friday. The Niger State governor ordered schools in the area to shut down, urging the public to remain focused on rescue efforts rather than blame.

Parents shared heartbreaking stories of fear and uncertainty. One mother said her nieces, aged six and 13, were among those taken, pleading for their safe return. Another parent whose children were spared described the attack as devastating for the entire community.

Authorities say St Mary’s School had been warned to close its boarding facilities due to intelligence reports of heightened risk. The school has yet to respond to those claims.

Elsewhere in Nigeria, similar incidents were reported last week. More than 20 girls were kidnapped from a school in Kebbi, and 14 farmers were taken in Borno, where one woman was later rescued. In Kwara State, 38 people abducted from a church service were freed, though two people were killed during the attack.

The rise in kidnappings has intensified national frustration. While some international voices have framed the violence as targeting Christians, Nigerian officials say the attackers pose a threat to everyone—Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith—emphasizing that the motives often involve criminal profit or local resource disputes rather than religion.

Nigeria continues to battle long-running insecurity, including attacks by armed groups in the north-east and communal clashes in central regions. The government maintains that it is working to restore safety across affected areas, but many families remain in anguish as the search for hundreds of children continues.

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Among the most shocking incidents was the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Kebbi State. Gunmen attacked the school before dawn, killing the vice principal and taking the girls in a confrontation with security forces.

In another tragic event, armed assailants raided a church in Kwara State during an evening fellowship, killing three worshippers and abducting at least 38 people, including the pastor. Victims ranged from seven to 64 years old, with a majority being women. The attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles, spreading panic throughout the community.

In response to the worsening situation, President Tinubu will remain in Nigeria to personally oversee national security efforts, working closely with the DSS and other agencies. Vice President Kashim Shettima has been appointed to represent Nigeria at the G20 summit in his stead.

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The sudden violence has intensified pressure on the Nigerian government, especially as global voices draw attention to religious tensions in the country. President Bola Tinubu cancelled a planned trip to South Africa and Angola so he could receive urgent security briefings and coordinate a response to the recent attacks. He ordered a stronger security presence in the area and directed agencies to pursue the attackers and rescue the kidnapped victims.

The attack unfolded in the middle of a church service. A video shared online captured worshippers praying moments before gunfire erupted. People scrambled for safety as armed men entered the building, collecting belongings and rounding up several congregants before leading them into the surrounding bush.

Police later confirmed that one person died inside the church while another was found dead nearby. Some witnesses reported seeing at least three fatalities. The exact number of abducted worshippers has not yet been confirmed.

The governor of Kwara has called for immediate reinforcements, urging security agencies to tighten protection across the state to prevent further violence.

Meanwhile, authorities are still searching for the schoolgirls taken from a boarding school in Kebbi State earlier in the week. The vice president is expected to visit the area to meet with families and local leaders as the search continues.

Across Nigeria, communities remain on edge as the country continues to confront overlapping security challenges—from insurgency and banditry to clashes in rural regions.

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Speaking at an event in New York, the rap star said she believes Christians in Nigeria are being singled out. “Churches have been burned, families torn apart… simply because of how they pray,” she said, emphasizing that her stance is about “standing up in the face of injustice.”

Her comments come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with widespread insecurity. Armed groups and jihadist factions have carried out violent attacks across various parts of the country, affecting both Muslims and Christians. Analysts continue to stress that the violence targets people of all backgrounds — and isn’t limited to any single religious group.

In recent days, a church attack in Kwara State left two people dead and several others kidnapped. Videos believed to be from the church’s CCTV system show worshippers scrambling for safety as gunmen stormed the building. On the same day, authorities confirmed that a senior Nigerian army officer was killed by jihadist fighters after being ambushed in Borno State.

Earlier this month, Trump said he would send troops into Nigeria “guns a-blazing” if the government failed to stop attacks on Christians. Minaj thanked him for “prioritising this issue,” saying her message was about unity and protecting vulnerable communities.

Nigeria’s government, however, strongly disagrees with these claims. Officials insist the violence affects everyone—Muslims, Christians, and people of no faith—depending on where attacks occur. Independent monitors also say that many victims of jihadist groups in the country are Muslims living in regions where insurgents are most active.

Despite the political tension surrounding the issue, Minaj praised Nigeria as a “beautiful nation with deep faith traditions,” even giving a shout-out to her Nigerian fan base. Her remarks mark one of her most high-profile political interventions to date.

The debate comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s long-running struggle with insecurity, including kidnappings, banditry, and resource conflicts. Many Nigerians continue to express frustration over what they see as a relentless cycle of violence affecting rural communities, schools, churches, and major travel routes.

Minaj, known for speaking openly on social and political topics, has previously shared her Christian background. In recent years, she has also drawn attention for various public controversies and long-running feuds within the music industry.

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Governor Lawal is one of six Nigerian governors selected to accompany the president. Others include governors from Osun, Plateau, Gombe, Katsina, Niger, Enugu, and Nasarawa states.

According to the governor’s team, all G20 member countries will be represented at the summit, alongside 16 invited nations and six regional economic blocs from Africa, the Caribbean, and East Asia.

The two-day summit will feature three main sessions covering a wide range of urgent global topics. Discussions will address trade, development financing, global debt concerns, climate change, food systems, clean energy transitions, critical minerals, decent work, and the role of artificial intelligence in development.

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Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna, Dr. Bilkisu Oniyangi said the group—made up of Nigerians from diverse backgrounds and faiths—came together to respond constructively to recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump had suggested that Nigeria could be relisted as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and even hinted at possible military action.

According to Oniyangi, those comments have stirred anxiety and division across the country. “We are concerned that these developments could deepen our national fault lines and turn Nigeria into a pawn in global geopolitics,” she said.

She emphasized that Nigeria’s long-standing challenges—ranging from insecurity and poverty to poor governance—had made the nation vulnerable to foreign pressure. “This is our problem as Nigerians, and it will be solved by us,” she added. “What we need now is solidarity, not interference.”

The group acknowledged that while global partners such as the U.S., U.K., China, and Russia could support Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, the country’s sovereignty must remain non-negotiable. They urged President Bola Tinubu to show stronger political will and accountability, calling on him to directly reassure citizens that their safety is his government’s top priority.

“We encourage President Tinubu to stay focused on rebuilding trust and reforming our decaying security institutions,” Oniyangi stated. “He should resist unnecessary foreign trips and instead lead from home.”

The group also called on the President to appoint capable ambassadors who would defend Nigeria’s image abroad and prevent misinformation. They urged religious and community leaders to promote unity and tolerance, reminding Nigerians that insecurity affects everyone regardless of faith or ethnicity.

“Nigerians should not argue about who suffers more,” the group said. “Every life matters. This is a battle between peace-loving citizens—Muslims and Christians alike—and those who seek to destroy them.”

They also warned against growing foreign influence in the Sahel region, which they said could empower extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, Ansaru, IPOB, and bandits. Such instability, they noted, threatens not only Nigeria’s unity but also the security of the wider region.

“Our independence and unity have been tested before,” Oniyangi concluded. “We will overcome again, but we need the support of genuine friends and allies.”

The group reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government and other stakeholders to promote peace, national cohesion, and lasting security across the country.

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Trump recently threatened military action against Nigeria, alleging that Christians were being killed without government intervention. He warned that the U.S. could suspend aid if the killings continue.

In response, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government does not condone violence of any kind and that the killings are carried out by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIL, who target everyone regardless of religion.

“There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa. “The killing of any Nigerian is a loss to the country, and our government is firmly against it.”

The presidency added that while the U.S. is welcome to assist in combating terrorism, Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected. Presidential aide Daniel Bwala expressed optimism that cooperation between both countries could lead to better results in fighting extremism.

President Bola Tinubu also defended Nigeria’s record on religious tolerance, saying his administration actively engages both Christian and Muslim leaders to promote peace and security nationwide.

Experts and analysts agree that Trump’s statements misrepresent the complex reality of Nigeria’s security crisis. Conflicts driven by extremist groups in the northeast have affected both Muslims and Christians for over a decade.

Humanitarian lawyer Bulama Bukarti described the “Christian genocide” narrative as misleading and dangerous, warning that such rhetoric could deepen division in an already fragile society. “These groups don’t target people based on religion — they attack everyone,” he said.

Similarly, analyst Ebenezer Obadare urged international cooperation rather than confrontation. “This is the time for support, not invasion,” he noted, emphasizing that undermining Nigeria’s authority would only make the situation worse.

Despite ongoing insecurity, the government maintains that Nigeria remains committed to protecting freedom of religion and ensuring peace for all its citizens.

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In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed he had directed the Pentagon to prepare a plan of attack if the Nigerian government failed to act swiftly. He accused Nigerian authorities of allowing violence against Christians to continue unchecked, calling it an “existential threat” to the faith.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and may go in ‘guns-a-blazing’ to wipe out the Islamic terrorists behind these atrocities,” Trump wrote. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet — just like the terrorists attack our cherished Christians.”

He ended his message with a warning to Nigeria’s leadership: “The Nigerian government better move fast!”

Nigeria has long struggled with deadly conflicts involving ethnic, regional, and religious groups. Experts say the violence has claimed the lives of both Christians and Muslims across the country.

Trump’s comments follow repeated claims — many without clear evidence — that Christians are being specifically targeted in large numbers by radical groups. Such statements have reignited debates about Nigeria’s religious and political divisions, as the country remains nearly evenly split between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-majority south.

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