In the early hours of Friday, armed gunmen struck St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting dozens of students and staff.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers stormed the school between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., catching residents off guard. One security guard was shot during the raid and is reportedly in critical condition.
While authorities are still trying to pin down the exact number of abductees, reports vary: the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State claims 215 pupils and students, along with 12 teachers, were taken. Another source says 227 people may have been abducted. Still, some independent reports cite 52 missing as a more conservative figure.
The Niger State Government has expressed regret, saying the school reopened despite a prior government advisory warning of heightened security risks. According to the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, the school resumed operations without obtaining security clearance — a move that potentially exposed students and staff to grave danger.
In response, police tactical units, alongside the military, have been deployed to comb nearby forests in a bid to rescue the abducted individuals.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora strongly condemned the attack, calling for unity, prayers, and community support for ongoing rescue efforts. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the search-and-rescue operation intensifies.
