Panic and uncertainty have gripped Niger State following a midnight assault by terrorists on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area.
The attackers abducted an unconfirmed number of students and staff, leaving families and the entire community anxiously awaiting official updates.
According to reports by Daily Trust, several sources indicated that multiple students were seized during the late-night raid. A source from a local Catholic church confirmed the incident but stated that the school was still working to determine the exact number of those taken. “Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later in the day,” the source said.
The Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledged the incident but said further details would be provided after ongoing assessments. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, confirmed via telephone that the attackers struck between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Friday morning. The actual number of abducted students and staff remains undetermined as authorities continue to evaluate the situation.
In a separate report on Friday, it was claimed that as many as 52 students had been taken, though official confirmation is still pending. The incident comes on the heels of a similar abduction in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped just days earlier, fuelling nationwide alarm over the worsening security challenges facing schools in northern Nigeria.
The crisis intensified further when more than 50 schools were forced to shut down in Kwara State on Thursday due to the threat of bandit attacks. Amid escalating insecurity, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his planned trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate the national response to the growing wave of violence.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago also confirmed the Papiri incident on Friday via his official Facebook handle, issuing a statement titled, “Niger State Government Condemns Kidnapping of Pupils in Papiri Area in Agwara Local Government, Reiterates Earlier Security Directive.” The statement, signed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman, read: “The Niger State Government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary’s School in
Agwara Local Government Area. The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation.”
As families remain on edge, authorities have pledged to intensify efforts to safely recover the abducted students and staff, while the nation grapples with the deepening crisis of insecurity in its schools.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
