Students and Staff Abducted in Terrorist Raid at Catholic School in Niger State
Suspected terrorists have abducted an unknown number of students and staff of St. Mary’s School in Papiri community, Agwara LGA of Niger State.
The attack, which occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., has left the community in deep panic, with some residents estimating that over 100 people may have been taken. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of affected persons.
The Niger State Government, in a statement released by Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Abubakar Usman, condemned the attack and revealed that intelligence reports had earlier warned of heightened threats across parts of Niger North.
Based on that intelligence, the government had ordered the suspension of construction activities and the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the affected zone.
However, St. Mary’s School reportedly resumed academic activities without government clearance, a move officials say exposed students and staff to significant danger.
Security agencies have now launched a full-scale investigation and a search-and-rescue operation to locate the abducted pupils and employees. The state government says it is in constant contact with security formations and will release updates as more details emerge.
Authorities have urged school proprietors, community leaders, and stakeholders to strictly comply with security advisories, emphasizing that non-compliance puts children at risk. Residents have also been advised to remain calm and provide any information that could support security efforts.
The Niger State Police Command has not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
This incident violates the Right of the Child to Life, Survival, and Development, and the Right to Protection from Abduction, Violence, and Armed Conflict, as guaranteed under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act.
Every child has the fundamental right to be safe at school, to learn without fear, and to be protected by the state from threats that endanger their physical and emotional well-being.
