An unconfirmed number of students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria, following a night raid by suspected bandits, sources said.
The attack reportedly took place between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., with several students taken, according to sources familiar with the incident.
A representative of one of the Catholic churches in the state confirmed the abduction but said the school was still compiling details. “Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later in the day,” the source said.
Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said details of the abduction would be released later.
Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, confirmed the attack by telephone, adding that the exact number of students and staff abducted was still being verified.
The abduction follows a similar incident in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, highlighting growing insecurity in schools across northern Nigeria.
In response to escalating bandit activity, over 50 schools were closed in Kwara State on Thursday.
Kano Times reports that President Bola Tinubu recently cancelled scheduled trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate the federal government’s response to rising insecurity, according to reports.