Niger State has been gripped by tension following a midnight assault by terrorists on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution located in the Papiri Community of Agwara Local Government Area.
An unconfirmed number of students and staff are feared missing after the raid.
Details of the attack, which multiple sources confirmed involved the abduction of several students, remain fluid as authorities scramble to determine the exact scale of the crisis.
The Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the attack via telephone, revealing that the terrorists struck in the early hours of Friday morning.
He specified that the “attackers invaded the school between 2am and 3am, adding that the actual number of abducted students and staff had yet to be determined as authorities continue their assessments.” Separately, Arise TV reported the number of abducted students to be 52.
The Niger State Government confirmed the incident via Governor Umar Bago’s official Facebook handle in a statement e-signed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman.
The statement, titled, “Niger State Government Condemns Kidnapping of pupils in Papiri area in Agwara Local Government, Reiterates Earlier Security Directive,” detailed: “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,” the release noted.
A source from one of the Catholic churches in Niger State also confirmed the incident, explaining that the school was still trying to determine the exact number of victims. “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,” he said.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora also issued a formal statement denouncing the attack. Through its Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph, the Diocese confirmed the armed men stormed the school at midnight, “shooting a security personnel and abducting several members of the school community.”
The Diocese assured the public that they are working closely with security agencies, community leaders, and government officials to ensure the safe return of all victims, appealing for calm and prayers. The statement concluded partly: “May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people from all danger.”
When contacted, the Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said he would provide details later.
This assault deepens the nationwide concern over worsening insecurity in schools across the North. It comes just days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped. The crisis escalated further on Thursday when over 50 schools were shut down in four Kwara State local government areas due to rampaging bandits.
As the security situation intensifies, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate the national response to the deepening security challenges. This is not the first time a school in Niger State has been targeted; in February 2021, bandits attacked Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, kidnapping no fewer than 42 people, including 27 students.
