Fresh fear swept through Niger State on Friday after terrorists launched a midnight attack on St. Mary’s School in Papiri Community, Agwara Local Government Area, whisking away an unknown number of students and staff. The quiet community woke up in confusion as parents rushed to the school, desperate for information.
Early accounts from local sources indicated that several students were taken during the late-night assault, though the school was still trying to verify the exact number. Residents said panic spread quickly as news of the attack filtered into nearby villages.
A senior member of a Catholic church in Niger State confirmed the incident but explained that an official statement would be issued later after proper verification. He said the community was still grappling with the scale of the abduction.
Efforts to get clarification from the Niger State Police Command yielded little detail as the spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said more information would be made available later.
Governor Umar Bago later confirmed the abduction in a message posted on his official Facebook page, describing the attack as disturbing and heartbreaking. His statement, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, noted that the number of abducted pupils had not been confirmed and that security agencies were assessing the situation.
Further confirmation came from the Head of Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, who said the terrorists struck the school between 2am and 3am. He explained that both students and staff were taken, but authorities were still working to determine how many were abducted.
A separate update from Arise TV reported that at least 52 students were taken, though officials had not yet validated that figure.
The assault has deepened national anxiety, coming just days after 25 students were abducted in Maga, Kebbi State. The shockwave intensified on Thursday when more than 50 schools were shut down across four local government areas in Kwara State due to persistent bandit attacks.
The rising wave of kidnappings has prompted President Bola Tinubu to cancel planned trips to South Africa and Angola as he focuses on the deteriorating security situation.
Meanwhile, families in Papiri and surrounding communities continue to wait anxiously, hoping for swift action to bring the abducted students and staff back home safely.
