Breaking: Armed Men Abduct Students, Staff at St. Mary’s School in Niger State
By Paul Ebi
Papiri, Niger State – In a chilling attack on education, an unconfirmed number of students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to sources, the raid occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, with attackers storming the school between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. While details remain sketchy, witnesses report that many students were taken during the assault.
A source from one of Niger State’s Catholic churches confirmed the incident, telling Daily Trust, “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.”
Efforts to obtain information from the Niger State Police Command were met with a promise of further updates. Spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said he would provide official details later.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Department for Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, confirmed the attack via telephone, noting that authorities are still determining the exact number of abducted students and staff.
The incident comes on the heels of a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, raising alarm over the growing insecurity targeting educational institutions across the region. Just this week, over 50 schools in Kwara State were forced to close due to threats from armed bandits.
In response to the worsening security situation, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his scheduled trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate national measures against rising insecurity.
The abduction at St. Mary’s School marks yet another dark chapter in the ongoing crisis affecting schools in northern Nigeria, prompting urgent calls for enhanced security to protect students and staff.
