Security operatives have moved into Papiri in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State after suspected bandits attacked St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School and abducted several students and staff members in the early hours of Friday, November 21.
The attackers reportedly stormed the school around 2 am, firing shots as boarding students slept.
The gunfire woke many of the girls, and those who fled into nearby bushes were intercepted by the gunmen and taken away to an unknown location.
Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday, November 21.
He disclosed that police and military teams had already been deployed to begin combing the surrounding forests.
“The Niger State Police Command wishes to confirm that on 21st November 2025, at about 2:00 am, reports indicated that armed bandits invaded St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, and abducted an as-yet-uncounted number of students from the school’s hostel,” Abiodun said.
“However, police tactical units, military components, and other security agencies have moved to the scene, combing the forests with a view to rescuing the abducted students,” he added.
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Abiodun also pointed out that the school had ignored a government order to suspend academic activities due to heightened security threats in the area.
“In view of this, the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, reiterated the command’s commitment to rescuing the students unharmed and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support security operations.
“He further assured that the incident will be investigated, and necessary action will be taken against the school management for continuing academic activities contrary to the state government directive on school closures due to security challenges,” he stated.
The attack comes shortly after gunmen abducted more than 25 schoolchildren in Kwara State, killing the vice principal and injuring the principal.
This is not the first large-scale school abduction in Niger State.
In February 2021, at least 42 people, including 27 students, were taken when bandits raided Government Science Secondary School, Kagara.
According to the Niger Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Muhammad Idris, three teachers remain unaccounted for, and 12 of their family members were also abducted during that incident.