Niger government blames Catholic school for abduction of students
Story by Susan Mbamah
The Niger State Government on Friday condemned the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
Officials said the incident occurred during a midnight raid in which several students were taken by armed attackers.
According to Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara LGA, the gunmen struck between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. He added that the exact number of abducted pupils and staff was still being verified.
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In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, the State Government explained that it had previously received credible intelligence warning of heightened security threats in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.
The government said it had earlier suspended all construction work and ordered the temporary closure of boarding schools in the area as a precaution. However, St. Mary’s School allegedly reopened without notifying or obtaining clearance from authorities, a move the government described as exposing students and staff to avoidable danger.
Security agencies have since launched investigations and search-and-rescue operations aimed at securing the safe return of the abducted children.
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The government urged school proprietors, community leaders, and residents to adhere strictly to security advisories and cooperate fully with security agencies to safeguard lives, especially those of children.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar kidnapping in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were abducted, and amid rising insecurity affecting schools across the region.
On Thursday, more than 50 schools in Kwara State were shut due to bandit attacks, prompting President Bola Tinubu to cancel foreign trips to coordinate the national response to the worsening crisis.
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