Some pupils of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, are among villagers abducted by terrorists during a fresh attack on the area on Saturday evening, residents have confirmed.
The attack comes barely days after the affected schoolchildren were released from an earlier captivity, following negotiations between the terrorists and government authorities.
As earlier reported, the assailants killed no fewer than 35 people, including women and children, during coordinated assaults on Kasuwan Daji and Kaima communities.
Residents and security sources confirmed that the attackers stormed the villages, opening fire on residents before abducting several others.
A resident of one of the affected communities said the terrorists took the abducted victims into the Kainji National Park, a location frequently used by armed groups as a hideout.
According to the source, some of those abducted were students who had only recently regained freedom after a previous abduction.
“The attackers killed 37 people in Kasuwan Daji near Papiri and another five in Kaima village. Many people were abducted, including children and some of the students who had earlier been released,” the source said, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
The latest attack has deepened fears among residents, raising renewed concerns over the persistent insecurity in Niger State’s rural communities and the apparent ease with which terrorists continue to operate in the area.