Security operations have intensified in Niger State after armed gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, abducting an unconfirmed number of students in a midnight raid on Friday. The Niger State Police Command has assured the public that tactical units and military components are currently combing the forests surrounding the area in a coordinated effort to rescue the victims unhurt.
The incident, which occurred around 2:00 a.m., threw the remote Papiri community into panic as residents woke to the sound of sporadic gunfire and frantic movements around the school’s boarding facility. Witnesses reported that the attackers arrived in large numbers and forced their way into the hostels before escaping with the kidnapped students.
In an official statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack and said immediate action was taken once distress calls reached the command. He explained that specialized police operatives, alongside military personnel and other security agencies, were swiftly deployed to the crime scene and adjoining forest routes to track the movement of the abductors.
Abiodun noted that the joint security team is operating across difficult terrain, scanning suspected hideouts and known criminal passages within the dense forests bordering the Agwara axis. He emphasized that the rescue mission is ongoing and that every effort is being made to ensure that the abducted students are returned safely to their families.
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Authorities in Niger State have also expressed strong concern over the attack. Senior security officials held an emergency meeting shortly after the incident, during which strategies for tightening surveillance and reinforcing security formations across the region were reviewed. The government pledged full support to the security agencies involved in the operation.
Community leaders in Papiri said the heavy security presence has helped calm residents, many of whom initially fled the area out of fear of follow-up attacks. They commended the swift response but urged security agencies to intensify patrols, especially at night, along the riverbanks and forest corridors commonly exploited by bandits.
The Niger State Government has meanwhile called on school administrators across rural communities to cooperate with security authorities by adhering to safety directives issued earlier in the year. Officials reiterated that several warnings had been circulated regarding the dangers of operating boarding facilities in high-risk areas without proper clearance.
Parents and relatives of the abducted students have been gathering near the school premises seeking updates, while clergy members from the Catholic community have appealed for calm, prayers, and patience as security forces continue the rescue operations. They expressed confidence that the coordinated efforts of the police and military would yield positive outcomes.
Security analysts say the latest abduction highlights once again the need for improved intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms in states battling banditry. They noted that collaboration between local vigilantes and formal security agencies could significantly boost early-warning systems in vulnerable communities.
As the search continues, the Niger State Police Command has assured residents that further updates will be provided in due course. The command urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements or information that could support the ongoing rescue mission, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against insecurity.
