An eyewitness has described how some students of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, managed to escape after armed bandits abducted them early Monday morning.
The attackers, who arrived on motorcycles around 2 a.m., fired repeatedly upon entering the school premises, forcing students and staff into panic as they seized an unspecified number of pupils.
According to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the bandits operated freely for hours before dawn. They reportedly snatched a vehicle, using it alongside motorcycles to transport the abducted students out of the community.
However, their plan was disrupted when the stolen vehicle broke down just a few meters from the school.
“They abandoned the car after it failed. While they were trying to find another vehicle, some of the students managed to escape,” the witness said, adding that several others fled through the school’s perimeter fence. The exact number of abducted students remains unclear.
Government Reacts
Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, confirmed the attack, stating that authorities were still verifying the number of missing pupils. He disclosed that the government had earlier issued security warnings and ordered the temporary closure of boarding schools in high-risk areas.
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School reopened without informing the government, exposing pupils and staff to avoidable danger,” he said.
Usman added that security agencies have launched a search-and-rescue operation and will provide updates as the situation unfolds.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Ellema, also confirmed the incident, noting that police tactical teams, military units, and other operatives are combing nearby forests in pursuit of the kidnappers.
Catholic Diocese Condemns Attack
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, in a statement signed by Diocesan Secretary Father Jatau Luka, condemned the attack and confirmed that the abduction occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
The Diocese said it is working closely with security forces, community leaders, and government officials to secure the safe return of the abducted students, urging the public to remain calm and pray for their rescue.
The attack comes just four days after a similar abduction in Maga, Kebbi State, where 24 female students of a girls’ secondary school were kidnapped.