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The latest attack targeted St. Mary’s School in the city of Papiri in Niger State, where authorities had ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools due to rising security threats.

The Christian Association of Nigeria announced that 215 students and 12 staff members were abducted during the early-morning raid.

Nigeria has recently faced a wave of repeated attacks by armed groups, including the kidnapping of more than 20 Muslim schoolgirls from a boarding school in neighbouring Kebbi State on Monday, according to the BBC.

Further south, a church in Kwara State was also attacked. Two people were killed and 38 kidnapped while the service was being streamed online.

President Bola Tinubu postponed his foreign travels, including attendance at the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, to address these security issues.

Officials in Niger State said the mixed-gender school did not comply with the directive to close all boarding schools, which was issued based on intelligence warnings about increased attack risks.

In their statement, they said: “Unfortunately, St Mary’s School reopened and resumed academic activities without informing or receiving approval from the state government, exposing students and staff to preventable risks.”