What changed

B100590/2025

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

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

(2025/3029(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria;Nigeria,

– having regard to RuleRules 150150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure;Procedure,

WhereasA. whereas on 21 November 2025 armed groupsgunmen attacked St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting more303 thanstudents, 30012 schoolchildrenteachers and 12 teachersstaff in one of the largest massschool kidnappings in recentNigeria’s years;history;

WhereasB. whereas approximately 50 children managed to escape shortly after the attack and Nigerian authorities have secured the release of around 100 abducted children, while others remain missing and at risk, causing severe anguish among families and communities;

whereas the attack on St Mary's school was preceded by mass kidnappings and killings at the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State on 18 November and on the Government Girls' Secondary School in Kebbi State on 17 November;

C. whereas over 400 people, largely schoolchildren, have been abducted in North-Central Nigeria since mid-November 2025; whereas the majority of them have not been released; whereas similar kidnappings have occurred across northern and central Nigeria, including in Kebbi and Borno states;

Whereas no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction; whereas criminal gangs and jihadist groups operating in northern and central Nigeria frequently kidnap civilians—particularly schoolchildren—for ransom. predominantly in Christian communities, resulting in 1037 students being kidnapped since 2020;

D. whereas these repeated attacks have forced widespread school closures, denying millions of children safe access to education;

Whereas repeated mass kidnappings severely undermine children's right to education, and contribute to ongoing displacement and insecurity;

E. whereas Nigeria’s security situation continues to deteriorate owing to armed gangs and jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State, leading the government to declare a national security emergency on 26 November 2025;

Whereas families, religious institutions, and local communities continue to call for greater protection, more transparency and accountability, urging authorities to rescue the remaining hostages and prevent further attacks;

F. whereas escalating religious, ethnic and intercommunal violence has resulted in the destruction of churches and other places of worship, forced displacement, and mass killings of Christians and Muslims;

whereas Nigeria continues to face a multifaceted security crisis marked by widespread violence, and is the most affected country in the world by violence against Christians with nearly 17,000 killings between 2019 and 2023, and over 7,000 victims already in 2025, along with thousands of kidnappings, attacks on churches, and destruction of villages;

1. Strongly condemns the mass kidnapping at St Mary’s Catholic School and all attacks against children, teachers and educational or religious institutions; expresses solidarity with the victims, their families and the affected communities;

Strongly condemns the mass kidnapping of schoolchildren in Papiri and all acts of violence, including religiously-motivated violence, committed by armed and jihadist groups in Nigeria;

2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining abductees and calls on the Nigerian Government to ensure their safe return and to conduct thorough and transparent investigations;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and teachers still held captive;

3. Calls on the federal and regional governments in Nigeria to take concrete steps to strengthen school protection and to fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration in cooperation with international partners; urges authorities to accelerate early warning systems;

Expresses solidarity with the victims, their families and the affected communities, and commends the efforts of those involved in securing the release of the children;

4. Expresses concern over school closures caused by insecurity, and urges authorities to limit disruptions and safeguard children’s access to education;

Urges the Nigerian government to intensify rescue operations, to enhance coordination with local authorities, to show more transparency and commitment towards the affected communities and to ensure that perpetrators are identified and brought to justice;

5. Urges the provision of alternative learning arrangements to ensure continuity of education for affected students;

Stresses the need for strengthened protection of schools, particularly in regions vulnerable to attacks, and for investments in early-warning systems and community-based security initiatives;

6. Calls on Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of all civilians held by armed groups and to better protect schools and vulnerable communities; urges authorities to ensure independent and effective investigations into abductions and related attacks and to prosecute and ensure judicial follow-up of those responsible in line with international human rights obligations and the rule of law;

Reaffirms the right of all children to education and safety, and warns that continued insecurity further undermines Nigeria’s social and economic development.

7. Recognises that conflict over access to scarce resources, endemic poverty, and insufficient opportunities to achieve a stable livelihood are driving insecurity and fuelling violence in northern Nigeria;

Urges the Nigerian government to take necessary actions to prevent violence against Christian communities which are specifically targeted by jihadist factions;

8. Urges Nigerian authorities and the international community to take action against insecurity and religious, ethnic and intercommunal violence in the region and end the widespread impunity that has emboldened criminal and terrorist groups;

Calls on the EU and its Member States, together with ECOWAS and the African Union, to support Nigeria through humanitarian assistance, capacity-building for security forces, child-protection programmes, and assistance in targeting organised criminal and terrorist networks;

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

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Nigeria.