Gunmen have abducted an undisclosed number of students, teachers and staff from St. Mary’s Secondary School, a Catholic boarding school in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Friday at about 2 am, while most of the students were asleep.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said security agencies, including military units, have been deployed to the area and are currently combing surrounding forests in search of the victims.
According to the state government, construction activities in the area had earlier been suspended and all boarding schools were directed to shut down due to intelligence reports of rising security threats across parts of Niger North Senatorial District. However, the management of St. Mary’s reportedly reopened the school without notifying authorities.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived with several motorcycles and vans before whisking away the victims.
This latest incident comes just days after similar abductions of students in Kebbi State and worshippers in Kwara State, highlighting renewed bandit activities in parts of the North.
