Armed men in large numbers attacked St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday, abducting an unconfirmed number of students and teachers in what has become yet another major assault on schools in Nigeria’s North.
The assailants reportedly arrived between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., riding on more than 60 motorcycles and accompanied by a van. They forcefully gained entry into the Catholic-owned boarding school and shot the gatekeeper, who sustained severe injuries.
Community sources said the attackers moved swiftly through the school compound, rousing students from their dormitories and taking away both learners and members of staff. Witnesses described the incident as “deeply distressing,” saying the community woke up in shock and fear.
“One can only imagine the terror those children and their teachers faced,” a resident of Agwara told reporters. “We still don’t know how many people were taken, but it could be a large number.”
Some locals fear the number of abducted individuals may exceed 100, though authorities had yet to confirm the figure as of the time of filing this report.
Police Confirm Incident, Launch Rescue Operation
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the attack and subsequent abduction. In a statement on Friday, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said multiple tactical units, supported by military personnel and other security agencies, had been deployed to the area.
He disclosed that the joint security team had begun combing forests surrounding Papiri and other remote routes believed to be used by the gunmen.
Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives by providing actionable intelligence that could aid rescue efforts. He also vowed that the incident would be thoroughly investigated.
Elleman criticised the school for continuing academic operations despite a state government directive ordering schools in the area to shut down temporarily due to rising security threats, saying appropriate measures would be taken against the management.
Rising Wave of School Abductions
The incident adds to a growing list of recent attacks targeting schools, religious institutions, and vulnerable communities across northern Nigeria.
Just days earlier, 26 female students were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. The school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, was reportedly killed while attempting to prevent the gunmen from taking the girls.
Similarly, at least 30 worshippers were kidnapped during an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, an assault that left three people dead.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks and expressed sympathy to the affected families. Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maga on behalf of the President earlier in the week to reassure residents of the federal government’s commitment to restoring security.
The abduction in Niger State has intensified calls for urgent action to protect schools, especially in communities facing persistent threats from armed groups.
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