Authorities in Niger State have intensified security operations in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, following the abduction of several students from St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in the early hours of Friday, November 21, 2025.
According to a statement from the Niger State Police Command, armed assailants invaded the school around 2:00 a.m., targeting the school hostel and forcibly taking an unconfirmed number of students. In response, the Police, alongside military and other security agencies, have launched coordinated operations to comb nearby forests in a bid to rescue the abducted students safely.
Police Assurance and Call for Public Cooperation
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, assured the public of the Command’s commitment to recovering all abducted students unharmed. He urged residents to provide credible information that could aid ongoing operations.
In the same statement, the Police emphasized that investigations are ongoing, noting potential accountability measures against the school management for continuing academic activities despite an earlier government directive mandating school closures in high-risk areas due to security threats.
Background
The Papiri abduction is the latest in a troubling trend of attacks targeting schoolchildren across Niger State and the wider region, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protective measures and enforcement of government safety directives.
The rescue efforts continue as security forces work to locate and secure the release of the students. Legal observers have noted that such incidents may trigger increased scrutiny of school safety protocols and potential civil or criminal liability for institutions that fail to adhere to government security guidelines.
Statement from Niger State Police Command:
“Police tactical units, military components, and other security agencies have been deployed to Papiri for immediate rescue of kidnapped students of St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School. The Command remains committed to rescuing the students unharmed and urges public cooperation.”
SP Wasiu Abiodun, PPRO, Niger State Command
