In the wake of a brazen overnight terrorist raid on St Mary’s Catholic School, distraught parents converged on the institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area, scrambling to withdraw their children amid heightened fears of further violence. The chaotic scenes, captured in viral videos circulating on social media, show families clutching school bags and personal belongings, their faces etched with panic as they navigate dusty pathways lined with security personnel and abandoned dormitories.
The attack, which unfolded between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. local time, saw armed bandits—locally referred to as terrorists—storm the boarding school’s hostels, abducting an unconfirmed number of students and staff. Local media outlet Arise TV reported at least 52 schoolchildren taken captive, while other sources, including government statements, described the figure as “yet to be confirmed,” potentially exceeding 100. A school security officer was shot during the raid, though their condition remains unclear. No group has claimed responsibility, but analysts point to the bandits operating in the Kainji Dam enclave, a notorious hideout for such groups in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions.
Niger State Government Blames St. Mary’s School For Mass Abduction Of Pupils
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has blamed the management of St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area for the mass abduction of pupils, accusing the school of violating a security directive issued weeks earlier based on intelligence warnings.
In a press release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the government said it received news of the kidnapping “with deep sadness.”
It added that the “exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed” as security agencies continue their assessment.
According to the statement, the attack occurred despite prior intelligence indicating “an increased threat level in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.”
The release said the government acted on the intelligence by issuing “a clear directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure.”
The government, however, lamented that St. Mary’s School disregarded the instruction.
It said: “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 the staff to avoidable risk.”
It was gathered that the government’s statement marks the first official response following the overnight raid in which armed terrorists stormed the school and kidnapped a large number of pupils and staff.
Multiple community sources who visited the school after the attack confirmed the invasion, describing it as a coordinated operation that lasted between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.
Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, the Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara Local Government, also confirmed the incident, alongside Bello Gidi, media aide to the chairman of Agwara Local Government.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Gidi said, “Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State.”
He further revealed the scale of the attack, stating, “The information that is reaching us is that they have kidnap over 100 students and teachers. Also, the school is a mixed school boys and girls.”
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