HAPPENING NOW: Terrorists Break Into Another Secondary School in Nasarawa, Kidnap Dozens of Students
Although the exact number of abducted students remains unclear, initial reports suggest that several students are missing, and some staff members may also have been taken.
Panic and anguish have engulfed the Rukubi community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State after armed terrorists invaded Peter’s Foundation Secondary School and abducted an unspecified number of students in the early hours of Thursday.
According to locals, the attackers stormed the school compound around midnight, firing gunshots into the air and causing chaos as students and staff fled in all directions. The heavily armed gang reportedly overpowered the school’s security personnel before rounding up dozens of students and forcing them into the forest.
Residents described the scene as “terrifying,” saying the attackers operated for several minutes without any resistance from security forces. “We were jolted out of sleep by gunshots,” a resident told News Week Nigeria. “Before we knew what was happening, the terrorists had entered the school. Children were screaming and running, but many were captured.”
Although the exact number of abducted students remains unclear, initial reports suggest that several students are missing, and some staff members may also have been taken. School authorities and security agencies were still conducting headcounts at the time of filing this report.
Third School Attack in 48 Hours
This latest kidnapping in Nasarawa marks the third school-related terrorist attack in just 48 hours, further igniting concerns over escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s northern region. Within the past two days, bandits and insurgent groups have launched multiple assaults on schools across the North, reviving fears reminiscent of the early mass kidnappings that drew global outrage.
Security analysts warn that terrorists may be reactivating a strategy of targeting schools to create national panic, negotiate ransoms, and assert dominance in rural communities.
“This pattern is deeply worrying,” said a security expert familiar with the region. “Attacking three schools in two days is a calculated move. It suggests coordination and a renewed focus on soft targets.”
Community in Shock as Parents Scramble for Information
Following the attack, distressed parents rushed to the school premises at daybreak, seeking information about their children. Many were seen crying, shouting, and calling out their children’s names, hoping they might emerge from hiding.
One mother, whose 14-year-old daughter is among the missing, said she had not slept since the news broke. “We sent our children to school to secure a future for them,” she said through tears. “Now we don’t know where they are or what condition they are in. Government must help us.”
School officials have appealed for calm, assuring parents that the authorities are working with security agencies to confirm the number of abducted students and launch a rescue operation.
Government, Security Agencies Yet to Issue Detailed Statement
Authorities in Nasarawa State are yet to release an official statement on the attack, though a senior government official confirmed that security operatives have been deployed to the area. Efforts are reportedly underway to comb the surrounding forests and establish contact with the attackers.
Police sources say aerial surveillance and ground troops have begun operations, though rescue efforts in past incidents have faced challenges due to difficult terrain and the tactical experience of the criminal groups involved.
A Growing Trend of School Attacks
Nigeria has witnessed a resurgence of mass abductions targeting schools since the beginning of the year. Many parents fear sending their children to boarding schools, particularly in rural parts of the North where security presence is minimal.
Experts argue that the combination of porous borders, under-resourced security agencies, and collaboration between different armed groups fuels the continuation of such attacks. In many cases, communities have been forced to negotiate ransoms privately due to slow government response.
Calls for Immediate Government Action
Civil society organizations, education advocates, and security experts are urging the federal and state governments to take decisive action to prevent further attacks.
“This cannot continue,” said an education rights activist. “If schools remain under siege, the future of thousands of children is at risk. Government must protect schools, hold attackers accountable, and strengthen intelligence operations.”
Parents and community leaders in Rukubi have also pleaded with authorities to prioritize the safe rescue of the abducted children and implement stronger security measures around learning institutions.
A Community in Prayer and Uncertainty
As the search for the missing students continues, Rukubi remains a community overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, and grief. Residents gather in groups, praying for the safe return of the abducted children and for an end to the waves of violence tearing through the region.
For now, families can only wait anxiously for news—hoping that rescue efforts will be swift and successful, and that their children will return home unharmed.
