Nigeria has recorded another devastating school kidnapping, this time in Niger State, where gunmen abducted an unspecified number of pupils from St. Mary’s School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government.
The attack, carried out between 2:00 a.m and 4:00 a.m on Friday, comes just days after 24 female students were taken by armed men from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where the vice principal was shot dead.
Two of the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls have since reportedly escaped, but the larger national concern has deepened with this latest incident in Niger State.
Confirming the attack, the Head of Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, said the terrorists struck in the early hours of Friday. “Yes, the incident occurred this morning,” he stated via telephone, noting that security authorities were already on the ground.
The Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said details of the incident would be released after ongoing investigations.
Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, also confirmed the abduction in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Friday.
The statement, titled “Niger State Government Condemns Kidnapping of Pupils in Papiri Area in Agwara Local Government, Reiterates Earlier Security Directive,” expressed deep concern over the attack.
“The Niger State Government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary’s School in Agwara Local Government Area,” the release said.
According to the statement, the exact number of abducted pupils has not yet been determined, as security agencies continue to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts.
The state government reiterated its earlier security directives and urged communities to remain vigilant as authorities work to track down the attackers and secure the safe return of the pupils.
