Suspected terrorists stormed St. Mary’s School, a private Catholic secondary school located in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, in the early hours of Friday and abducted more than 50 students.
The attack occurred around 2:00 a.m. when the gunmen invaded the school premises, overpowered the security guards, and forcibly took away the students, most of whom were boarding pupils asleep in their dormitories.
The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, confirmed the incident to journalists in Minna.
He stated that the exact number of abducted students is still being verified as school authorities and security agencies continue to reconcile records.
“We received the report of the attack this morning. The precise figure of those taken is not yet confirmed because the headcount is ongoing.
Security operatives are already on ground and doing everything possible to ensure the safe rescue of the children,” Usman said.
The Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, also confirmed the abduction.
He disclosed that a joint team comprising police tactical units, military personnel, and other security agencies has been deployed to the area.
“Immediately we got the distress call, we mobilised our men alongside the military and other sister agencies.
They are currently combing the surrounding forests and all possible escape routes used by the abductors.
We are optimistic that the students will be rescued unharmed,” the police commissioner assured.
Local sources in Papiri community said the attackers arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and operated for close to an hour without resistance, firing sporadically into the air to scare away residents.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction as of the time of filing this report.
However, the modus operandi is similar to previous attacks linked to armed bandits and terrorist elements operating in the region.
The incident has once again highlighted the deteriorating security situation in parts of Niger State, despite sustained military operations in the area.
Efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted students and reunite them with their families.
Further details will be provided as the situation develops.
