By Obinna Uballa
Terrorists who stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours of Friday, abducted 215 students and 12 staff, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said.
The New Diplomat had reported that terrorists invaded the school and abducted several students and staff on Friday, four days after gunmen kidnapped at least 25 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Maga, Kebbi State.
The Niger State has placed the total number of abductees at 227. Its chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who visited the school late Friday, said 215 pupils and students and 12 teachers were taken.
“I met with some parents of the children and assured them efforts are being made, in collaboration with government and security agencies, to ensure the children are rescued safely,” Yohanna said. “Some students escaped, and parents have begun taking their children home because the school has now been shut down.”
Independent verification of the numbers remains unclear as neither the police nor the state government has provided a specific figure.
The attackers reportedly arrived around 2am, shooting the school’s security guard before forcing their way into the hostel. They allegedly used a truck taken from the community to move the victims but later abandoned it when it broke down, marching the students into the forest on foot.
Government blames school for defying closure order
In a statement, Niger State’s Secretary to the Government, Abubakar Usman, faulted the school for allegedly ignoring a government directive prompted by intelligence warnings of heightened threats in the area.
The state, he said, had ordered the suspension of construction activities and temporary closure of all boarding schools in the affected zone.
“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 staff to avoidable risk,” Usman stated.
Police confirm attack, launch rescue operation
The Niger State Police Command also confirmed the abduction. Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said joint tactical teams and military units had been deployed.
“At about 2am, armed bandits invaded St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, and abducted a yet-to-be ascertained number of students,” he said.
“Police tactical units, military components and other security agencies have moved to the scene, combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students.”
The abduction marks one of the largest school kidnappings in recent years, heightening fears over renewed mass attacks on educational institutions across northern Nigeria.
