Terrorists launched a coordinated assault on St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State early Friday morning, abducting a significant number of students and teachers in what officials are describing as a well-organised operation.
The attack occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., with multiple community sources confirming the invasion after visiting the school. According to local government officials, the assailants abducted more than 100 students and teachers from the mixed-gender institution.
Bello Gidi, media aide to the Agwara Local Government Chairman, confirmed the incident to media outlets, stating that bandits had kidnapped students and teachers from the school. He noted the scale of the attack, emphasising that both male and female students were among those taken. However, the exact number of abducted individuals remains unverified, with community members reporting figures ranging from “more than a dozen” to over 100.
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Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara Local Government, also confirmed the attack. When contacted, Niger State Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun indicated he was still working to verify details of the incident.
The attack marks the second major school abduction in the region within a week. Five days earlier, terrorists stormed Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, abducting approximately 25 female students and killing at least one staff member. A school guard was also injured during that assault, which occurred around 5:52 a.m. as students prepared for morning routines.
These incidents underscore the ongoing security challenges facing educational institutions across Nigeria’s northern regions.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
