By Kingston Magare 21.11.2025
Terror gangs in the early hours of Friday November 21 seized 52 students and staff of the St. Mary Secondary School, Papiri Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident happened at about 2.00am when the gunmen invaded the Catholic owned school premises and abducted the students and staff.
Niger State Police Command, spokesman, SP W. A Abiodun, said a combined team of security forces are not combing the forest for a trace of the students and their teachers.
“Police tactical units, military components and other security agencies have moved to the scene, combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students.
“In view of this, the Commissioner of Police Niger State Command CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman reiterated the Command’s commitment to rescue the students unhurt and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support security operations to rescue the students,” the statement added.
Meanwhile Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, said the incident “deeply saddening and avoidable.”
He said government had warned schools and construction workers on the elevated security threats across parts of the Niger North Senatorial District.
Acting on these reports, the State Government said it directed the suspension of all construction activities and the temporary closure of boarding schools within the affected areas as a proactive safety measure.
Despite this directive, St. Mary’s School allegedly reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or obtaining clearance from the government, a violation which, according to the SSG, exposed pupils and staff to severe risk.