The Niger State Government has condemned the abduction of students from St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, describing the incident as “deeply saddening and avoidable.”
In a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, authorities confirmed that the exact number of abducted pupils was still unknown as security agencies continued their assessments.
According to the government, credible intelligence earlier indicated heightened security threats across parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. In response, the state reportedly ordered the temporary closure of boarding schools and the suspension of construction activities in the affected areas as a precautionary measure.
Despite the directive, St. Mary’s School allegedly resumed academic activities without informing the government or seeking clearance — a move the SSG said exposed students and staff to unnecessary danger.
Security agencies have since launched a full-scale investigation alongside intensified search-and-rescue operations aimed at ensuring the safe return of the abducted students.
The state government said it remains in close communication with security formations and will provide updates as the situation unfolds. It urged school administrators, community leaders, and stakeholders to strictly adhere to all security advisories, stressing that the protection of children remains its top priority.
Citizens were encouraged to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist ongoing rescue efforts.
Channels Television earlier reported that gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in the early hours of Friday. The attackers, said to have arrived in large numbers on more than 60 motorcycles and in a van, reportedly shot the school’s gatekeeper, leaving him critically injured before abducting the students.
The latest incident comes amid rising insecurity in northern states, adding to growing concerns over the safety of educational institutions in vulnerable communities.
