A new wave of insecurity has swept through Niger State as armed attackers invaded St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, abducting an unconfirmed number of students and staff in a late-night assault that has deepened public anxiety over school safety in northern Nigeria.
The incident, which unfolded while many residents were asleep, has once again spotlighted the rising vulnerability of educational institutions across the region.
Although full details remain unclear, early information obtained by Daily Trust indicates that several students were taken during the raid. Local church officials familiar with the school confirmed the attack but stressed that administrators were still verifying the number of missing individuals.
One official, who spoke with Daily Trust, explained that the Catholic authorities preferred to “speak only when the facts are fully established,” adding that a formal statement would be issued soon.
Also, security agencies have yet to release comprehensive information. The Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, told reporters he would provide updates later.
However, confirmation came from the Agwara Local Government’s Head of Disaster and Relief, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, who said the gunmen stormed the school between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
He noted that the headcount was ongoing, emphasising that “the exact number of abducted students and staff will only be clear after a full assessment.”
Veracity Desk reports that the attack follows a string of recent assaults on schools in the Northwest.
Only days earlier, 25 female students were kidnapped from a secondary school in Maga, Kebbi State.
The persistent pattern of school-related abductions has raised fears among parents, education authorities, and local communities.
A security analyst in Minna, responding to the latest development, remarked that “schools are becoming pressure points in the broader insecurity crisis,” urging the government to adopt stronger monitoring systems in rural institutions.
