The Federal Government, alongside several northern states, has ordered a shutdown of academic activities in response to escalating insecurity and the recent abduction of 215 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.
The incident occurred on November 22, 2025, when armed bandits attacked the school around 2 AM, abducting the pupils and teachers while they were asleep. This attack follows closely on the heels of another incident where 26 schoolgirls were taken from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi just days earlier.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to travel to Kebbi State and oversee rescue operations for the abducted girls. The situation prompted the closure of 41 federal unity schools, along with similar actions by governors from Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Benue, and Katsina.
Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Chairman of the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, confirmed the abduction and assured parents that efforts are underway to secure the safe return of their children. He stated that he had met with parents to reassure them of ongoing collaboration with government and security agencies.
Investigations into the attacks are ongoing, with the Niger State Police deploying a combined force of police and military personnel for rescue operations. However, the state government criticized St. Mary’s School for operating against a prior directive ordering the closure of schools in high-risk areas.
The closures have caused academic disruptions across northern Nigeria, with reports indicating that over 42,000 schools lack adequate security infrastructure, making them vulnerable to future attacks.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum expressed distress over the current wave of violence, emphasizing that it must not derail efforts to bring children back into classrooms. They reiterated their commitment to collaborating with security agencies to improve school safety.
