Additional Coverage:
Students and Staff Abducted in Overnight School Attack in Western Nigeria
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – An undisclosed number of students and staff were kidnapped early Friday morning during an attack by unidentified gunmen on a Catholic boarding school in western Nigeria. The incident, which occurred around 2 a.m. local time, targeted St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community of the Agwara local government area in Niger state.
The Nigeria Police Force’s Niger State Command confirmed the abduction, stating that “armed bandits” had “abducted a yet to be ascertained number of students from the school’s hostel.” Police tactical units, military components, and other security agencies have since deployed to the scene and are actively combing the surrounding forests in an effort to rescue those abducted.
The Niger state government also released a statement expressing profound sadness over the “disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary’s School.” They noted that the exact number of abducted individuals remains unconfirmed as security agencies continue their assessment of the situation.
This unfortunate incident comes despite prior intelligence warning of increased threats in parts of Niger state. The governor had previously ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure.
Abubakar Usman, secretary to the Niger state government, stated that “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.”
While official numbers are still being confirmed, local media reports indicate that a roll call at the school revealed 52 students and several staff members are missing. This latest attack adds to a recent string of abductions by armed groups across Nigeria, including the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in nearby Kebbi state just this past Monday. These escalating incidents have prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned international trips.