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More details have emerged on how terrorists stormed St Mary Catholic Secondary and Primary School, Papiry, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, and abducted no fewer than 50 students.
The bandits attacked the school, riding on over 100 motorcycles and shooting randomly.
At the end of the attack, they abducted both students and staff of the school, located at the entrance of Papiri.
It was learnt that the armed men raided the school at about 1am and operated until a few minutes to 3am, ending at the school’s hostel before taking the road through Kofanti into the thick forest adjoining Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas.
Agwara Local Government is separated by the upper course of River Niger from Yauri Local Government in neighbouring Kebbi State, where a similar incident occurred recently.
A villager who said he has relations in the school, Bawa Peter, said that he was not sure what to do, as there was no clear information on the whereabouts of the abducted children.
Another villager, who preferred anonymity, they heard gunshots, and when they arrived at the scene, they found the security man shot and lying in a pool of blood.
As of press time, neither the school nor the security agencies had released the list of abducted students.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident, said on 21 November 2025, at about 2am, the police received a report indicating that some armed bandits had invaded St Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, and abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained 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,” he said.
The police spokesman disclosed that the commissioner of police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, had reiterated his commitment to rescuing the students unhurt and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support security operations.
He further pledged that the incident would be investigated and necessary action taken against the school management for holding academic activities contrary to the state government’s directive ordering the closure of schools in the area due to security challenges.
Similarly, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Usman, the government confirmed the incident while expressing sadness.
He said: “The Niger State Government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St Mary’s School in Agwara Local Government Area.
“The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation.
“This unfortunate incident comes despite prior intelligence indicating an increased threat level in parts of Niger North Senatorial District. In response to these credible alerts, the state government had earlier suspended all construction activities and ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone.”
However, he lamented that: “Regrettably, St Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the state government, thereby exposing pupils and staff to avoidable risk.”
The SSG said security agencies had commenced full-scale investigation and search-and-rescue operations, noting that the government was in close communication with all relevant security formations.
Similarly, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, under which the school falls, also confirmed the attack in a statement signed by the Diocesan Secretary, Jatau Luka Joseph.
It stated that “armed attackers stormed the school in the early hours of today, abducting several pupils, students, teachers and a security personnel who was reportedly shot during the incident.”
According to the statement, “the attackers invaded the school between 1am and 3am, leaving the entire community in fear and distress.”
Joseph said the Diocese “strongly condemns the attack” and expressed deep concern for the safety of the kidnapped children and their families.
He disclosed that security agencies were immediately alerted and had begun coordinated rescue efforts.
He assured the public that the Diocese was working closely with security operatives, community leaders and other authorities to ensure the safe return of all abductees.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, strongly condemned the attack and expressed concern for the safety of the kidnapped children.
He assured that the Body of Christ was collaborating with security operatives and government authorities to ensure their safe rescue.
The cleric, who is also the Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, called on the public to remain calm, support security efforts and continue to pray for the safe and quick return of the abductees.
CAN also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and promised further updates as verified information becomes available.
Similarly, Niger North Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Distinguished Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, condemned the incident, describing it as heartbreaking.
He said the abduction was “a direct assault on our shared humanity and an unacceptable attempt to weaponise fear against innocent children whose only pursuit is education.”
He stressed that terrorism would not dampen the determination of young Nigerians to learn and develop.
He expressed compassion for the affected families and reaffirmed his confidence in the Armed Forces, urging them to deploy all necessary resources for a swift rescue.
He also urged communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements promptly.
On his part, the chairman of Agwara Local Government, Ilya Zakeri, confirmed the attack but said he was still receiving briefings on the number abducted.
A villager who preferred anonymity disclosed that he observed the movement of the bandits along Kofanti Road, stating they arrived on over 100 motorcycles.
Soldiers Withdrawn Before Schoolgirls’ Abduction In Kebbi, Says Gov
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has expressed concern over the withdrawal of military personnel from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before the abduction of students by bandits.
The governor raised the concern while receiving the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, who paid him a sympathy visit in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, 21 November 2025.
Idris described the soldiers’ withdrawal as unfortunate, saying the government had received intelligence of a planned attack and convened a security meeting.
He said, “As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting. The agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school. The military was deployed, but they withdrew by 3am, and by 3:45am, the incident happened.”
The governor said the state had demanded a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal.
He asked: “Who authorised the military to withdraw? How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time?”
Idris said the state and federal governments were working tirelessly to secure the safe return of the abducted girls.
Clerics were also directed to intensify prayers for the victims and for peace in the state.
He said the NLC President’s visit was historic and a show of solidarity.
“We will do everything humanly possible to rescue our daughters,” he added.
Kebbi Closes Boarding Schools In Trouble Areas
Meanwhile, following the abduction of schoolgirls from GGCSS Maga in the Danko/Wasagu local government area of Kebbi State, the state government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, has ordered the immediate closure of some boarding schools in troubled areas of the state.
Though there was no official statement regarding the closure of the schools, our reporter gathered that the boarding schools in the affected local government areas were closed down indefinitely.
The ministry’s decision to close the schools was said to have been taken to prevent the recurrence of another terrorist invasion in the state.
We’ll Rescue Kebbi Schoolgirls, Minister Vows
In a related development, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle has stated that the rescue team dispatched by the federal and state governments is close to rescuing the 24 abducted students of GGCSS Maga in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State. Matawalle stated this on Friday during a courtesy visit to Governor Nasir Idris at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
He said he had been given marching orders to relocate to Kebbi State and ensure the immediate release of the abducted students.
He said, “After this courtesy call, we will move to all hideouts of the criminals, especially bandits in the forest, to get rid of them and rescue our daughters safely.”
On the issue of the military withdrawal from GGCSS Maga, Matawalle promised that those responsible would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.
Governor Idris thanked the minister for the visit and assured him of the state’s support for the rescue operation.
He appealed for a full investigation into why the soldiers were withdrawn shortly before the attack, which resulted in two deaths and the abduction of 25 students, one of whom later escaped.
