Nigeria was hit by another wave of school kidnappings on Friday as terrorists invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting several students in an early-morning raid.
The attack comes just days after 25 schoolgirls were seized from a government school in Maga, Kebbi State, triggering a nationwide security emergency and prompting President Bola Tinubu to deploy his Minister of State for Defence to the region.
Terrorists Strike Niger Catholic School at Dawn
The attack on St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday, November 21.
Armed men reportedly stormed the Papiri community, overpowering local security and taking away an unconfirmed number of students.
Mohammed Inuwa, a senior legislative aide to Rt. Hon. Jafar Muhammad Ali (Shattiman Borgu), confirmed the incident to Legit.ng.
“It happened around 3 to 4 a.m. The number of students abducted is not yet confirmed. The police command of the local government is informed,” he said.
Efforts to obtain details from security agencies have so far been unsuccessful. When contacted, Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said he needed time to verify the situation and did not respond to follow-up inquiries.
Fear now grips residents and parents, many of whom rushed to the school at dawn seeking information about their children.
Attack Follows Kebbi Schoolgirl Abductions
The Papiri attack comes barely days after terrorists kidnapped 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The renewed pattern of coordinated attacks on schools has alarmed security officials and forced President Tinubu to intervene directly.
Tinubu Orders Matawalle to Relocate to Kebbi
On Thursday night, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State to coordinate rescue operations for the abducted students.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the decision was driven by Matawalle’s previous experience handling mass abductions during his time as Zamfara governor.
“Matawalle is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday,” Onanuga said. “He gained experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping during his tenure as governor.”
He recalled the 2021 Jangebe abduction in which 279 schoolgirls were taken and later released under Matawalle’s watch.
President Cancels Foreign Trips as Security Worsens
Tinubu has also postponed planned trips to Johannesburg and Luanda as he awaits security updates on both the Kebbi and Niger attacks, as well as the church attack in Eruku, Kwara State.
According to the Presidency, the President is “closely monitoring all developments.”
Kebbi Publishes Names of Abducted Girls
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State government has released the full list of the 25 abducted students. The state dismissed claims by a U.S. lawmaker that the attack occurred in a “Christian enclave,” insisting that all the kidnapped girls are Muslim.
Local officials warned that such misinformation could inflame religious tensions.
Atiku Reacts
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the abduction of the Kebbi schoolgirls, calling for urgent federal action. He lamented the frequency of attacks on northern communities and said rising insecurity should no longer be normalised.
Supporters of Atiku also linked the Kebbi incident to similar abductions in Kaduna, warning that the trend is spreading unchecked.
