In an alarming response to escalating violence, the Niger State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all primary and secondary schools across the state. The emergency directive came after armed terrorists invaded St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in the Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area, abducting over three hundred students and a dozen teachers in the early hours of Friday. The attack, which happened between 2am and 3am, is one of the worst mass abductions in Nigeria’s recent history and has sent shockwaves throughout the nation.
During the attack at St. Mary’s, local police and eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen stormed the premises while boarding students were asleep, leading to the kidnapping of approximately 303 children and 12 staff members.
Initial accounts described the operation as highly coordinated, with the attackers arriving on over one hundred motorcycles and remaining at the school for nearly an hour. Local sources confirmed, “The bandits stormed the school while the students were asleep. The attack lasted for one hour before the gunmen eventually whisked the victims away to unknown destinations,” said a school representative.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago announced the school closures in the wake of the tragedy, expressing deep concern for the safety of students and staff. “The stakeholders have decided to close all [schools] in Niger. All will remain closed until further notice. Thus, we have declared a Christmas holiday for all educational institutions in Niger state,” Governor Bago stated at a press briefing following a security summit in Minna.
The government said a prior intelligence report had indicated increased threat levels in the district, prompting the earlier suspension of academic activities and construction projects in vulnerable zones.A government statement signed by Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government, stressed that St. Mary’s School had operated in violation of official guidance, reopening and resuming classes without government clearance, thus exposing both staff and students to danger. Usman explained, “Regrettably, St. Mary’s school proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the state government, thereby exposing pupils and staff to avoidable risk.”
Security forces have now launched intensive search-and-rescue missions to locate and recover the abducted pupils and teachers. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police have been unable to confirm the exact number of victims, noting that “operatives are still gathering facts on the incident.” In addition to Niger, Kwara, Plateau, and Katsina states have announced similar emergency measures, shutting down schools amid rising fears of further violence.
The brazen nature of the attack and the government’s subsequent response underscore the urgent need for enhanced security and intelligence measures to protect Nigeria’s education system from the scourge of violent crime. Parents, education stakeholders, and human rights groups have called for coordinated action to guarantee the safe return of the abducted students and to provide lasting solutions for the security challenges facing schools nationwide.
