EU Parliament decries Nigeria school kidnappings, says Christians “targeted”

The European Parliament has decried the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren in Nigeria and warned that Christian communities are being “specifically targeted” amid worsening insecurity and widespread impunity.

In a resolution adopted Thursday, seen by Pluboard, lawmakers cited the mass kidnapping on 21 November, when armed attackers abducted more than 300 students and 12 teachers and staff from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) expressed solidarity with the victims, their families and affected communities, noting that repeated attacks across Nigeria have forced widespread school closures, denying millions of children safe access to education.

They urged Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to protect schools, limit learning disruptions and guarantee alternative education arrangements for displaced students to ensure continuity of schooling.

Beyond the immediate incident, the resolution situates the Papiri abduction within a broader pattern of violence linked to armed groups, criminal gangs and extremist organizations operating across parts of the country.

“The authorities and the international community must act against insecurity and religious, ethnic and intercommunal violence, in particular against Christian communities, which are specifically being targeted, and end the widespread impunity that has emboldened criminal and terrorist groups” the resolution said.

MEPs also called for independent and effective investigations into school abductions and related attacks, demanding that perpetrators be prosecuted in line with international human rights standards and the rule of law.

They warned that persistent failure to hold attackers accountable has fuelled widespread impunity, emboldening criminal and terrorist groups and deepening insecurity across Nigeria’s rural and conflict-prone regions.

The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority, with 519 votes in favour, two against, and 50 abstentions.

Growing concern

The European Parliament’s intervention adds to mounting international scrutiny of violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks on schools and religious communities.

Concerns over targeted violence against Christian communities have featured prominently in Western policy debates on Nigeria in recent months, after U.S. president Donald Trump raised concerns over killings, kidnappings and church attacks.

Nigeria has remained a focal point in global discussions on religious freedom, education security and counterterrorism, as banditry, jihadist insurgency and communal violence intersect across the north and central regions.

Despite repeated government pledges to improve security, mass kidnappings continue to highlight gaps in state protection, intelligence coordination and accountability.