Abuja: A teacher who survived the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri has shared a heartbreaking account of the kidnapping that left more than 250 students still missing. Her words have brought renewed attention to the growing insecurity in northern Nigeria.

The teacher said chaos began when armed men entered the school and ordered everyone to move. She described how the children cried and held onto one another as the gunmen forced them toward nearby bushland.

Her voice broke when she described the moment her young daughter cried out in fear. One of the attackers pointed a gun at the child and threatened to shoot her if she did not stay silent. The teacher said she felt helpless and feared she would watch her child die.

She said the journey through the forest was long and frightening. Many children stumbled as the group moved deeper into the bush. Some begged for water while others were too scared to speak.

The teacher and several others later managed to escape after days in captivity, but many children and staff did not. Officials say roughly 253 students and 12 school employees remain missing.

The attack has shocked the nation and intensified calls for stronger security. While the government has announced plans to recruit thousands of new police officers, parents and teachers say more immediate action is needed.

Schools in the region have now closed temporarily, and many families say they are afraid to send their children back to class.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and authorities have not confirmed any ransom demands. Search teams continue to work with local communities to find the missing.

For now, the teacher says she prays constantly for those still held captive.
“These children are scared,” she said. “They just want to come home.”