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Gunmen have kidnapped in excess of 300 pupils and educators in what appears to be the biggest collective seizures in recent Nigerian history, according to a Christian organization on Saturday.

Growing Emergency in School Facilities

The early Friday assault on St Mary's mixed-gender school in western Nigeria came just days after gunmen stormed a high school in neighboring Kebbi state, taking 25 girls.

Initial reports had stated 227 individuals were seized, but revised figures surfaced after a thorough counting process confirmed that 303 pupils and 12 educators had been abducted.

The kidnapped pupils, ranging between eight and 18 years, account for nearly half of the school's total student body of 629.

Government Response and Security Measures

State officials have stated that intelligence departments and police are currently conducting a thorough assessment to verify the precise number of missing people.

In reaction to the increasing safety fears, the state government has mandated the closure of all schools in the state, with nearby states following comparable precautionary actions.

Furthermore, the national education ministry has ordered the temporary closure of 47 residential high schools throughout the country.

President Bola Tinubu has called off overseas commitments, including attendance at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, to focus on handling the emergency.

Latest Violent Incidents

The school abductions constitute the most recent in a series of safety breaches that have rocked the country, including an assault on a church in the west of Nigeria where gunmen shot dead two individuals and seized numerous worshipers during a online broadcast service.

These incidents have taken place against the background of global focus on Nigeria's security situation.

Historical Background

Nigeria remains scarred by the memory of the large-scale kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls by jihadist group Boko Haram in Chibok over a decade ago, with some of those victims still unaccounted for.

Firsthand Testimonies

In a disturbing video clip shared by Christian groups, a upset school staff member recounted hearing the sounds of motorcycles and cars before experiencing "forceful banging" on various entrances of the school premises.

"Children were weeping," the staff member stated, recounting her panic while searching for access to the area where the crying was loudest.

The local Catholic authority confirmed that the "attackers acted aggressively and without interruption for nearly three hours, searching sleeping quarters."

Citizen Reaction and Fears

At the same time, about 600km away on the periphery of Abuja, concerned guardians were collecting their children from educational institutions following the closure order.

One mother, a 40-year-old healthcare worker, voiced her shock at the magnitude of the kidnapping, questioning how 300 children could be abducted simultaneously.

She concluded that the "authorities is not doing enough to combat the security crisis," and voiced approval for international assistance to "salvage this situation."

Ongoing Safety Issues

For a long time, well-equipped criminal gangs have been conducting killings and abductions for ransom in remote areas of northern and central Nigeria, where state presence is minimal.

While no group has taken credit for the latest incidents, bandit gangs demanding ransom payments frequently attack schools in rural areas where security is weak.

These groups maintain bases in extensive woodland areas straddling several states in the west of Nigeria.

While these bandits have no political motives and are primarily motivated by financial gain, their increasing cooperation with jihadist groups from the north-east has become a significant source of concern for authorities and experts alike.