Tension has escalated across Niger State in the North Central region of Nigeria after armed attackers invaded St. Mary’s School, a Catholic-run institution located in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, during a midnight assault believed to have led to the abduction of several students and staff members.
Okay News reports that families, school authorities and security agencies are still racing to determine the full scale of the tragedy.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, has thrown the quiet community into distress. According to accounts shared, multiple residents stated that several learners were taken away during the armed raid, although the exact number remained uncertain by midday.
Residents say the community is now overwhelmed with fear as parents and guardians gather around the school premises awaiting formal communication from authorities. One source affiliated with a Catholic church in the state confirmed the disturbing development.
The source explained that although the school leadership had verified that an attack took place, the process of determining who is missing remains ongoing. He stated, “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.”
When security agencies were contacted, the Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, indicated that more information would be provided subsequently.
Meanwhile, clarity emerged from local authorities when the Head of Department for Disaster and Relief Affairs in Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the incident via a telephone call. He revealed that the assailants carried out their operation between two o’clock and three o’clock in the morning.
He further disclosed that the “attackers invaded the school between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., adding that the actual number of abducted students and staff had yet to be determined as authorities continue their assessments.”
In a separate update, Arise Television reported that fifty-two students had been kidnapped, though this figure was yet to be independently verified by government agencies.
This latest development follows another school abduction in Maga town of Kebbi State earlier in the week, where twenty-five students were seized. The rising frequency of school-related attacks has intensified concerns about the safety of educational institutions in northern Nigeria, particularly in remote communities.
The situation grew even more troubling on Thursday when authorities in Kwara State ordered the closure of more than fifty schools due to persistent threats posed by violent criminal groups commonly referred to as bandits.
Amid the escalating crisis, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cancelled scheduled diplomatic trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate the national response to Nigeria’s worsening security emergency.
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State also confirmed the attack via his official Facebook page. He referenced a government statement titled “Niger State Government Condemns Kidnapping of Pupils in Papiri Area in Agwara Local Government, Reiterates Earlier Security Directive.”
Part of the statement reads: “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.”
Authorities have assured the public that additional updates will be released as soon as investigations progress and clearer information becomes available.
