Terrorists launched a devastating pre-dawn attack on a private Catholic secondary school in Niger State on Friday, abducting more than 200 students and teachers, according to updated reports from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and local authorities.
The coordinated operation targeted St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, lasting approximately one hour between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. The state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the scale of the tragedy late Friday, reporting a total of 227 abductees, comprising 215 pupils and students and 12 teachers.
Earlier reports from community sources who visited the mixed-gender school confirmed the invasion, though the initial number of those abducted remained unclear. Bello Gidi, media aide to the Chairman of Agwara Local Government, confirmed the incident, initially stating that “over 100 students and teachers” had been kidnapped.
Government Blames School for Safety Breach
In a swift and controversial response, the Niger State Government blamed the management of St. Mary’s School for disregarding a recent security directive. In a press release, the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman, stated that the attack occurred despite prior intelligence warnings about an “increased threat level” in the Niger North Senatorial District.
The government claimed it had issued “a clear directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure.” “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 the staff to avoidable risk,” the statement read.
Wave of School Attacks Continues
This mass abduction marks the latest in a worrying trend of attacks targeting educational institutions across Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions. The incident comes just five days after terrorists stormed the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, abducting approximately 25 female students and killing at least one staff member. That attack occurred around 5:52 a.m. as students prepared for their morning routines.
Security agencies have yet to release an official, comprehensive statement regarding the Papiri attack. When contacted, Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, stated he was still working to confirm the details.
Meanwhile, security operations in the general region remain tense. Separately, terrorists recently launched a deadly attack on Rogun Village in Kwara State, where a fierce gun duel with security personnel resulted in the deaths of two operatives.
