The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State has confirmed that 215 students and 12 teachers were abducted during a bandit attack on a Catholic school in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, on Friday.
Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman in the state, described the incident as one of the largest school abductions in recent years. He said some students managed to escape during the attack and that parents have begun retrieving their children from the school, which has been temporarily closed.
“I have just returned from visiting the school and meeting parents to assure them that we are working closely with government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of the children,” Yohanna said.
He appealed for calm, urging residents to remain prayerful while authorities coordinate the rescue operation.
Earlier, the Niger State Police Command confirmed that armed men attacked St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School around 2 a.m., abducting an unspecified number of students.