High School Students Kidnapped

Parent praying - Photo: Morning Star News www.morningstarnews.org
A father prays for students at a breach in the school’s wall.
Photo: Morning Star News

Shooting wildly, armed assailants breached the walls of Bethel Baptist High School in the early morning of July 5th. More than 100, and possibly as many as 164, students at this boarding school in Maraban Rido (located on the outskirts of Kaduna State's capital), are still missing after being kidnapped by militants as part of a coordinated attack. The suspected Fulani militants overcame security guards, initially abducting almost all of the school's 180 students at gunpoint. A few of the students fortunately managed to escape.

At last report, governing officials have not received any contact from the kidnappers. Distraught parents gathered at the school awaiting news, collecting the remaining belongings of their children: discarded sandals and other personal items that had been left behind. "May God take away their tears and the suffering they will face at the hands of the kidnappers," commented a woman as she pointed to a hole in the school's perimeter where the gunmen had forcefully entered.

Around the same time, the nearby Faith Academy was also attacked. However, the academy's security team, together with soldiers in the area, managed to repel the assailants. In light of these recent raids, governing officials of Kaduna State have ordered Faith Academy, along with 12 other schools considered vulnerable to attacks, to shut down immediately.

These incidents are reminiscent of the mass kidnapping of Chibok students which was carried out in 2014 by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group. Many of these Chibok students are still missing. According to recent news reports, nearly 1,000 people have been abducted from Nigerian schools since December 2020 alone, with more than 150 of them still missing. In protest against the incessant kidnappings, hundreds of women, including parents of the Bethel school students, set up a blockade in the afternoon of the recent July 5th abductions on the highway in Maraban Rido. However, the military broke up the demonstration within hours.

Prayerfully remember these abducted students and their distraught families during this time of heartbreak and uncertainty. Pray for the protection of all the children remaining in captivity and for the needed comfort of those left behind. May God provide guidance and wisdom to Nigeria's military and police forces as they seek the safe return of the missing students, who are all so very precious in His sight, while also working mightily in the hearts of the perpetrators of these hateful crimes.

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC works with in-country partners to encourage and strengthen persecuted Christians through a variety of methods. Christians are equipped with audio bibles to distribute to their persecutors. Christian widows receive skills training and trauma counselling as a way to provide an income for their families and heal from the trauma they’ve faced in losing their husbands. Children who have lost parents and relatives due to attacks are provided with a safe place to grow and be nurtured. Medical fees are paid for Christians who have suffered injuries due to attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani. Discipleship and vocational training are given to Muslim Background Believers to help them start their new lives spiritually and practically. The Glenn Penner Scholarship Award is used to help equip persecuted Christians completing their Masters and have a heart to share the Gospel with the lost in their community.

    Project Funds: Women’s Ministry, Bibles, Medical Fund, Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Relief & Development

  • Country Information

    Population
    230,842,743 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Hausa (30), Yoruba (15.5), Igbo (15.2), Fulani (6), Tiv (2.4), Kanuri/Beriberi (2.4), Ibibio (1.8), Izaw/Izon (1.8), Other (24.7)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (53.5), Christianity (45.9), Other (0.6)

    Leader
    President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu (2023)

    Government type
    Federal presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Nigeria

    May God minister great comfort and healing to all who have been injured or bereaved as a result of the militants' brutal attacks. In addition, pray for the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls, that they will be assured of the Lord's abiding presence as they await release from captivity. Continue to uphold President Tinubu and other members of the Nigerian government as they make further attempts to rescue the remaining girls and provide protection for vulnerable citizens. As they persevere in their endeavours to overcome terrorism, may they be granted wisdom, courage, strength and help from on high.

Nigeria News

  • Over 7,000 Christians Killed Thus Far in 2025
    Pallbearers are carrying a beautifully decorated white casket.
    Persecuted believers in Nigeria are familiar with grief. 
    Photo: Evangelical Church Winning All

    Reports of violence against Christians in Nigeria continue to multiply, with attacks from multiple sources surging in both frequency and intensity. According to a report released on August 10th, more than 7,000 Nigerian Christians had been killed within the first 220 days of 2025 – an average of 32 deaths per day. Additionally, at least 7,800 followers of Jesus were abducted for their faith, more than 19,000 churches have been destroyed, and over 1,100 Christian communities are now dealing with displacement in the aftermath of these attacks.

  • Expanding Dangers for Christians
    Video screenshot of the destruction.
    Video screenshot showing some of the
    destruction following the Benue massacre.
    Photo: Stefanos Foundation

    In recent weeks, the Voice of the Martyrs Canada produced a special two-part video series on Nigeria, highlighting the dangers facing Christians in the northern region of the country while focussing on the urgent need for prayer. If you have not yet taken the time to view these two brief but powerful videos, please do so at our country report.

    The persecution of believers in Nigeria continues to escalate, fuelled by intensifying attacks from more than six different militant groups vying for control of the nation. As a result, hundreds of Christians have been killed, injured or kidnapped in recent months. In mid-June alone, more than 200 villagers lost their lives in the state of Benue and thousands of others were displaced. While economic and cultural factors contribute to the unrest, religion remains a major catalyst of the ongoing violence. For instance, during the recent raid in Benue, eyewitnesses reported that the attackers shouted, "Allahu Akbar," as they targeted predominantly Christian communities, leaving devastation in their wake.

  • SPECIAL MEDIA PRESENTATION
    Stephen is teaching in a video preview.
    Join us in praying for our Nigerian family.

    VOMC's production team has filmed on location in Nigeria a special two-part "Persecution & Prayer Alert" video series. We now invite you to view the second part of this informative series. (To watch the previous week's video presentation, and/or to explore published written reports addressing persecution in Nigeria, visit our country report.)

  • SPECIAL MEDIA PRESENTATION
    Rev. Joseph John Hayab is praying in a video preview.
    View this inspiring call to prayer.

    The Voice of the Martyrs Canada production team has filmed on location in Nigeria a special two-part "Persecution & Prayer Alert" video series. We invite you to view this presentation, and then join us in prayer for our persecuted Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ who are – with God's empowerment and the prayers of His people – resiliently overcoming intense persecution in this beleaguered nation.