The Niger State Government has confirmed the abduction of pupils and staff from St. Mary’s School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area, describing the incident as distressing and avoidable. The exact number of victims has not yet been determined.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said in a statement that security agencies were still conducting a headcount as part of an ongoing assessment. He explained that the attack happened despite earlier intelligence warning of heightened threats across Niger North Senatorial District.
Usman disclosed that the government had issued a directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the zone. However, St. Mary’s School reportedly reopened without seeking approval from the state government.
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance, thereby exposing pupils and staff to avoidable risk,” the statement read.
He added that security agencies have launched full-scale investigations and search-and-rescue operations to recover the abducted pupils and staff. The government assured residents of continuous updates and urged strict adherence to security advisories to prevent further incidents.
Local sources said the attack occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Friday, with many students taken during the raid. Officials in the community, including Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Department for Disaster and Relief in Agwara, confirmed that verification of the total number of abductees was still ongoing.
Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said details would be released as more information becomes available.
The incident follows closely on the heels of another abduction in Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped in Maga, raising renewed concerns about the safety of schools across northern Nigeria.
