Niger Pupils Abducted After School Reopened
By Wellington Jopelo
The Niger State Government has confirmed that several pupils and staff of St. Mary’s School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government were abducted during an overnight attack on Friday.
Officials said the exact number of victims was still unknown as security teams were carrying out a headcount and trying to determine how many people were taken.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman, the kidnapping happened in spite of earlier intelligence warning about rising threats in parts of Niger North, where the government had already ordered boarding schools to shut down and halted all construction activities for safety reasons.
The government expressed concern that St. Mary’s School reopened without seeking formal clearance, which it said exposed pupils and teachers to danger. “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,” the statement read.
Usman said security agencies have launched a full-scale investigation and search-and-rescue mission to secure the safe return of the abducted pupils and staff. He added that the government is in constant communication with security formations and will share updates as new details emerge.
Authorities urged school owners, community leaders, and stakeholders to follow all security instructions strictly, noting that protecting children remains the government’s top priority. Residents were also encouraged to stay calm and provide useful information to aid the rescue efforts.
Community sources said the attack happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., and many students were taken during the raid on the Catholic-run school. However, the exact number remained unclear as records were still being compiled.
The Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the attack by telephone, saying officials were still verifying how many people were abducted. The Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said more information would be released later.
The incident comes at a time of growing concern over school safety in the northern region, following the recent kidnapping of students in other states earlier in the week.