Gunmen are now believed to have kidnapped more than 300 children and staff from a Catholic school in central Nigeria, marking one of the country’s most severe mass abductions.

The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger state, far higher than initial estimates. The organization said the figures were revised upwards "after a verification exercise."

The abduction occurs amid a wave of attacks by armed groups. The updated number of victims surpasses the 276 people taken during the notorious Chibok abduction of 2014.

Local police stated that the assailants stormed the school at approximately 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Friday, abducting students who were staying on campus.

Dominic Adamu, whose daughters attend the school but were not among those taken, told reporters: "Everybody is weak... it took everybody by surprise."

One woman, visibly distressed, said her nieces, aged six and 13, had been kidnapped, adding: "I just want them to come home."

Authorities said security forces are "combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students."

Earlier reports indicated that 215 pupils had been taken, but the figure has now been revised upwards, reportedly representing nearly half of the school’s student population, according to reports.

Niger state officials stated that the school had ignored an order to close all boarding facilities despite intelligence warnings of heightened risk. They said this decision exposed pupils and staff to "avoidable risk." The school has not responded to the claim.