A staggering 303 students and 12 teachers have been kidnapped by armed assailants in a raid on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic establishment in Niger state, located in north-central Nigeria. This update comes from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which revised the initial figure of 215 abducted students.

The revised numbers were confirmed following a thorough verification process and census, as detailed in a statement by Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the chairman of CAN’s Niger state chapter. Reverend Yohanna visited the school on Friday to assess the situation firsthand.

In a distressing turn of events, 88 additional students were captured as they attempted to flee the attack. The victims, comprising both boys and girls, are between the ages of 10 and 18.

This incident unfolds amidst claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump about targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria. However, it’s important to note that attacks in the country affect both Christian and Muslim communities alike. For instance, a recent attack in Kebbi state occurred in a predominantly Muslim town.

The timing of the attack coincided with a visit by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to the United States, where he engaged in discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.

The attack also took place as Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu was visiting the US where he met Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.