Niger State School Abduction: Gunmen Attack St Mary’s Secondary School
Armed men have attacked St Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting an as-yet unknown number of students and staff in the early hours of Friday, 21 November 2025.
According to a statement confirmed by the Niger State Police Command, the attackers invaded the school’s hostel at about 2:00 a.m., overpowering security around the premises and whisking away several students into the surrounding bush.
Security Response to Abduction
Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said police tactical units, military personnel and other security agencies have been deployed to the area and are currently combing nearby forests in a bid to rescue the abducted students and staff unharmed. Authorities have not yet released an official figure of those taken, while some local reports suggest that dozens of students may be involved.
Government Reaction to Niger State School Abduction
The Niger State Government has condemned the attack and hinted that the school had reopened despite earlier security warnings and a directive to keep schools in the area closed due to rising threats, a decision now under investigation. This latest abduction comes just days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Kebbi State, underscoring the renewed wave of school attacks and mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria.
