Panic and grief have gripped the community of Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, after armed men stormed St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in the early hours of Friday, November 21st, resulting in the kidnapping of over 215 students and 12 teachers, according to multiple local and international news outlets.
The invasion reportedly took place around 2 a.m., when residents and witnesses say gunmen arrived en masse, some on up to 60 motorcycles and in at least one van. “They packed the students and their teachers in the van and went away with them,” an anonymous local told The Telegraph, recounting the fear and chaos that erupted during the assault.
Security agencies have yet to confirm the total number of abductees, but local officials and church sources state that the school is working to compile an accurate list. Usman, the Secretary to the Niger State Government, acknowledged the tragedy while outlining the authorities’ response: “Tactical police units and military forces have been mobilized in response… The police stated they are conducting searches in the forests with the aim of rescuing the kidnapped students.”
A spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed awareness of the attack and said details would be made public once verified. At press time, no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, though residents fear links to known militant groups operating in the region.
The incident has ignited debate over the resumption of activities at the boarding school. Niger State Government officials stated: “Unfortunately, St. Mary’s School chose to resume activities without informing or obtaining clearance from the State Government, thus putting the students and staff in unnecessary danger.” The government had previously ordered all boarding facilities in the area to remain closed after intelligence warnings of heightened risk, an order the school allegedly disregarded.
Families remain in anguish, waiting for updates. One distraught woman told the BBC her nieces, aged just six and thirteen, were among those taken: “I just want them to return home,” she said tearfully.
The attack comes just days after similar abductions elsewhere in Nigeria, part of a wave of violence against educational institutions that has drawn national and international condemnation. President Bola Tinubu’s administration has promised swift action. Search and rescue operations were ongoing at the time of reporting, with concerns mounting for the safety of the abducted children and staff.
