Nigeria

The blast occurred in Maiduguri, a city that has been at the heart of an Islamist insurgency waged by Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, for nearly two decades.

The students are among more than 300 pupils and 12 staff seized by gunmen from St Mary's Catholic boarding school in Papiri village in the early hours of November 21.

Terrorism is growing across Africa as coups, corruption, and weak leadership leave nations exposed and children unsafe.

The attack is the latest in a series of abductions in central Nigeria and puts more pressure on the government, which is under scrutiny from US President Donald Trump.

The US has imposed full restrictions and entry limitations on nationals from five countries - Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria - in addition to the initial list of 12 countries.

In its first foreign military intervention in nearly a decade, Nigeria sends fighter jets and ground troops to assist Benin government in restoring order.

A government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon, without providing details.

The Christian Association of Nigeria has said 303 children and 12 school staff were kidnapped on November 21 by gunmen at St. Mary's Catholic boarding school.

Archbishop Henry Ndakuba said Venerable Edwin Achi, seized with his wife and daughter from their home in Kaduna state on October 28, was murdered after spending about a month in captivity.

Mass kidnappings for ransom have become common in northern Nigeria, where armed gangs target schools and rural communities, often overwhelming local security forces.

Friday's incident in Niger state was the largest mass kidnapping of school children since the March 2024 abduction of students in northern Kaduna state.