Military and police operatives have been deployed to St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School in Niger State to rescue abducted students.
The school, located in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, was raided early Friday by suspected bandits, who reportedly abducted an undisclosed number of personnel and students, the majority of whom were girls, to an unknown location.
A source at the school confirmed that the incident occurred, but the exact number of abducted students had yet to be determined.
“The incident actually happened this morning while the students were sleeping. They kidnapped many students, and some who tried to run into the bush were captured. The Catholic Church will soon issue a statement,” the source said.
The bandits were claimed to have invaded the school around 2 a.m. and opened fire while the boarding pupils were sleeping. The gunshots apparently roused up the students, and those who attempted to flee into surrounding bushes were apprehended by the attackers.
Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday, claiming that a team of police and military personnel had been dispatched to Papiri to recover the abducted pupils.
He also stated that action would be taken against the school administration for maintaining operations despite a state government mandate ordering school closures due to security threats.
“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.
“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.
“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,” Abiodun stated.
In February 2021, bandits kidnapped 42 people, including 27 students, at Government Science Secondary School in Kagara, Niger State.
This follows a similar incident in Kwara State where over 25 students were abducted, the vice principal was killed, and the principal was injured by gunshots.
The Niger Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Muhammad Idris, confirmed this.
According to him, 12 family members of the teachers were also abducted during the raid.
