On mass kidnapping of children in Nigeria, including from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri mass kidnapping of children in Nigeria, including from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri

B100577/2025

European Parliament resolution on mass kidnapping of children in Nigeria, including from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri

(2025/3029(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on 21 November 2025 approximately 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted by gunmen from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri village in north-central Nigeria; whereas the majority of the children remain missing;

whereas the kidnapping is the latest in a series of school abductions in Nigeria; whereas shortly before the Papiri abduction, 25 girls were kidnapped from a predominantly Muslim school in Kebbi state; whereas several days later 12 girls were kidnapped in Borno state;

whereas over 400 people, most of them schoolchildren, have been abducted in north-central Nigeria since mid-November 2025; whereas the majority of them have not been released;

whereas the mass kidnapping of children in Nigeria has been largely perpetuated by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments; whereas the abductions have taken place across several states in the country, and have targeted both Christian and Muslim schools; whereas the attacks are leading to widespread fear and instability;

whereas in 2015 the Nigerian government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, containing recommendations for the protection of schools and universities in conflict situations;

whereas abductions are also being perpetrated by armed gangs in places of worship and homes; whereas this is taking place within the context of an extremely volatile security situation in northern Nigeria, with Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province waging an insurgency in the north-east, and intense deadly clashes between herders and farmers in the Middle Belt region;

Deplores the kidnapping of children and teachers in Nigeria; condemns the recent abductions and expresses its solidarity with the schoolchildren, their families, and those risking their lives to provide education;

Calls for the immediate release of all schoolchildren and teachers currently held captive;

Urges the Nigerian authorities to launch investigations into the abductions and bring the perpetrators to justice;

Calls on the federal and regional governments in Nigeria to take concrete steps to protect schools from attack, and work with international partners to fully implement the provisions of the Safe Schools Declaration;

Notes that only around 37% of schools in conflict-affected states have an early warning system to identify threats; urges state authorities to accelerate the establishment of these systems;

Expresses concern at the temporary shutdown of schools in affected areas due to lack of resources to safeguard security; urges the Nigerian authorities to minimise any suspension to avoid undue disruption for children and safeguard access to education;

Underlines that conflict over access to scarce resources, endemic poverty, and lack of opportunities to stable livelihoods is driving insecurity and fuelling violence in northern Nigeria; expresses deep concern that nearly 35 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity in Nigeria in 2026; urges the international community to increase humanitarian assistance;

Instruct its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the HR/VP, and the Government and Parliament of Nigeria.