Terrorists Attack Catholic School in Niger State, Abduct Dozens of Students

Panic and uncertainty have gripped the Papiri community in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State after terrorists launched a pre-dawn attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School, abducting an unconfirmed number of students.
The assault took place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday, according to accounts from residents and officials. Armed assailants reportedly invaded the school premises, seized students from their hostels, and transported them away in a bus. Early reports estimate the number of abducted students to be between 50 and 100, though authorities say the exact figure remains undetermined.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the Niger State Government condemned the abduction, describing it as a tragic incident that occurred despite earlier intelligence warnings of heightened threats across parts of Niger North Senatorial District.
The government disclosed that it had ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the affected zone as a precautionary measure. However, St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School reportedly reopened without notifying state authorities.
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,” the SSG said.
Authorities say a full-scale investigation and a search-and-rescue operation are now underway, with security agencies coordinating efforts to locate the missing students.
The state government urged school proprietors and community leaders to strictly adhere to existing security directives and called for calm as operations continue. “The protection of lives, especially those of our children, remains the utmost priority of this administration,” the statement added.