Armed men suspected to be bandits launched a brazen attack on St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri Ward, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours of Friday, carting away more than 100 students in a coordinated operation that has triggered widespread panic across the region.
According to community sources, the attackers stormed the school between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., taking advantage of the quiet hours to overpower the security presence around the premises. The school, which has served the Borgu Kingdom for more than five decades, operates both primary and secondary sections with day and boarding facilities, making the scale of the abduction particularly devastating.
Residents said the heavily armed bandits arrived in large numbers and immediately cordoned off the surrounding area before advancing into the hostels. Witnesses reported that the gunmen fired several warning shots into the air to scare away locals, forcing everyone within reach to flee for safety as the attackers took control of the compound.
Eyewitnesses further revealed that the attackers marched the terrified students into two waiting Mitsubishi Canter trucks that had been strategically positioned near the hostels. The swift movement of the abductors left parents and nearby villagers in shock as news of the overnight operation spread at dawn.
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This distressing development comes barely two weeks after another violent incident in the same axis, where gunmen ambushed the convoy of Hon. Jafaru Mohammed Ali, the federal lawmaker representing Agwara/Borgu Constituency, killing six soldiers in the process. The latest attack has renewed concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the area.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of abducted students remains uncertain, with authorities still working to verify the figures. Neither the school management nor the Niger State Government has immediately released an official statement addressing the abduction or the safety of the victims.
However, the Niger State Police Command has confirmed the incident. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that officers received a report at about 2:00 a.m. indicating that heavily armed bandits had invaded St. Mary’s Private Catholic School and whisked away a yet-to-be-determined number of students from their hostels.
Security operatives, including police tactical teams, military units, and other security agencies, have since been deployed to the surrounding forests and riverine routes in a joint search-and-rescue mission. According to the police, the operation is ongoing, with all efforts geared toward bringing the abducted students back safely.
Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, assured the public that the Command is fully committed to ensuring the safe rescue of all victims. He appealed to residents of Papiri and neighboring communities to remain calm, cooperate with security operatives, and provide credible information that may assist the rescue mission.
Meanwhile, the police statement noted that the incident would be thoroughly investigated, adding that the school management may face sanctions for allegedly resuming academic activities despite earlier government directives ordering schools in the area to close due to increased security threats. Authorities say the situation underscores the need for stricter compliance with safety advisories as insecurity continues to escalate.
