On Friday, the Catholic Church and Niger State government confirmed a devastating attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government, in North-Central Nigeria. Armed men stormed the boarding facility in the early hours, abducting an undisclosed number of students and staff, triggering widespread outrage and renewed calls for robust security measures in the region.
According to Mr. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger State Government, “The Niger State government is profoundly saddened by the alarming news regarding the abduction of students from St. Mary’s School in the Agwara local government area.” Usman clarified that the “precise count of the abducted students has yet to be verified as security agencies are still evaluating the situation.”
Notably, local broadcaster Arise TV reported that as many as 52 students may have been kidnapped in the midnight raid, but state officials are yet to confirm the exact figure.Security agencies, including tactical units from the police and military, have been deployed to the area. In a statement, the Niger State police described the assault: “Armed bandits entered St. Mary’s Private [Catholic] School and kidnapped an undetermined number of students from the hostel.” The police added that they are “actively searching the forests in an effort to rescue the abducted students,” and authorities have intensified surveillance and rescue operations following the increase in school kidnappings and religious-based attacks.
The incident has drawn strong reactions from church authorities. In an official communication, the Catholic Church lamented the continuing violence against educational and religious institutions and called for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities.
A parallel controversy has emerged following revelations that St. Mary’s School resumed academic activities “without notifying or obtaining approval from the State Government, thus placing students and staff in unnecessary danger,” as stated by Abubakar Usman.
This breach of protocol, in light of intelligence indicating heightened threat levels, is being examined as a contributing factor to the tragedy.
This latest attack comes only days after armed gangs abducted 25 schoolgirls from a separate boarding school in Kebbi State, and as violence against both Christian and Muslim communities has spiked in recent weeks. The Nigerian government rejected allegations, recently amplified by foreign commentators, that violence is strictly targeted against Christians, noting that “Muslims are predominantly the victims of assaults carried out by armed groups,” according to a government statement.
The assault on St. Mary’s Catholic School is part of a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks on schools and religious centres across Nigeria, with security forces stretched thin in their efforts to stem the growing tide of abductions and violence. As of Friday afternoon, the fate of the kidnapped students and staff remains unknown, with families anxiously awaiting updates.
The Catholic Church, together with regional and federal authorities, continues to press for safe return of the victims and calls for decisive measures to ensure school and community safety in the face of escalating threats.
