More than 300 people are kidnapped from Catholic school in Nigeria

The kidnapping comes amid a wave of attacks by armed groups and Islamic insurgents in Nigeria, which has come under increased scrutiny since U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action this month over its treatment of Christians.

If confirmed, the revised number of people taken from the school would exceed the 276 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Chibok in 2014.

The Niger State government said on Friday that the school had ignored an instruction that boarding schools should be closed because of intelligence indicating a high chance of attacks.

But Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, president of CAN in Niger, said no warning had been issued after traveling to the school on Friday night.

“We are working with the government and security agencies to ensure our children are rescued and brought back safely,” he said.

The central government ordered the closure of almost 50 federal colleges. Public schools in some states were also closed.