Key Points

• Gunmen abduct students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.

• Church and local officials confirm the attack as security teams assess the situation.

• Authorities close schools and deploy personnel after rising attacks on schools.

Armed men attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area early Friday, abducting an unconfirmed number of students and staff, local authorities and church officials said.

The attackers struck between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., forcing pupils and staff into vehicles before fleeing. Officials are still determining the exact number of people taken during the raid.

Church Confirms Incident

A representative from one of the Catholic churches in Niger State confirmed the attack but declined to provide specifics, saying the school was still compiling records.

“Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later,” the source said.

Authorities Assess Situation

Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of the Disaster and Relief Department in Agwara Local Government, confirmed the incident over the phone.

Authorities are conducting an ongoing assessment to determine the full scope of the abductions.

The Niger State Police Command has not released official details. Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said information would be provided once the investigation is complete.

Pattern of Attacks on Schools

The raid follows a recent abduction in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped from a school, intensifying fears over the rising attacks on educational institutions in the region.

On Thursday, security threats prompted the closure of more than 50 schools in Kwara State.

Government Response

The growing wave of violence forced President Bola Tinubu to cancel trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate federal responses to insecurity.

The attack at St. Mary’s adds to the pattern of targeted assaults on schools in northern and central Nigeria, raising concerns about the safety of students and staff across the country.