In a brazen early-morning assault, suspected armed bandits stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in the remote Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, abducting at least 227 individuals, primarily pupils, students, and teaching staff.
The attack, which occurred between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. local time, has been described as one of the largest single-incident school kidnappings in Nigeria in recent years, heightening concerns over the escalating insecurity in the country's north-central region.
According to statements from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter, chaired by Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the victims include approximately 215 children from both primary and secondary sections, along with 12 teachers.
A security guard at the institution was also gravely injured after being shot during the raid. CAN officials emphasized that the assailants, believed to be criminal gangs operating in the area's vast forests, targeted the school's hostels, forcing the victims into the surrounding bush at gunpoint.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which oversees the mission-run schools, issued a strong condemnation of the incident, calling it a "distressing violation" of the sanctity of educational institutions. Diocesan authorities urged calm among affected families while pledging full cooperation with law enforcement for the victims' swift recovery.
Niger State government officials expressed profound regret over the event, noting that it transpired despite explicit warnings of elevated threats in the Niger North Senatorial District.
Prior intelligence had prompted directives for the temporary closure of all boarding facilities in vulnerable areas, a measure reportedly disregarded by the school's administration without prior notification or clearance. Security forces, including tactical police units and military personnel, have been mobilized to comb nearby forests in a coordinated rescue operation.
This abduction marks the second major school-related kidnapping in Nigeria within a single week. Earlier, on November 17, 2025, armed groups seized 25 female students from a government boarding school in neighboring Kebbi State, with one escapee later reported safe.
These incidents follow a pattern of ransom-driven attacks by non-ideological bandit groups, often former herders embroiled in resource conflicts, who exploit Nigeria's porous rural landscapes and under-resourced security apparatus.
Nigeria has grappled with a surge in mass abductions since the 2014 Chibok girls' kidnapping by Boko Haram insurgents, which drew global outrage. While jihadist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP continue operations in the northeast, northwestern and north-central states have seen a rise in opportunistic criminal kidnappings targeting schools, highways, and villages. Analysts attribute the persistence of such crimes to weak governance in remote areas, proliferation of small arms, and economic desperation amid climate-induced farmer-herder clashes.
Community leaders in Agwara have appealed for intensified federal intervention, highlighting the psychological toll on families and the disruption to education in an already marginalized region. President Bola Tinubu's administration has faced mounting criticism for its handling of insecurity, with recent events prompting the postponement of international engagements to focus on domestic crises.
As rescue efforts continue, authorities have reassured the public of their commitment to the victims' unharmed return, while calling for community vigilance and information sharing. No group has claimed responsibility, and ransom demands—if any—remain unconfirmed at this stage.
This developing story underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria's security architecture to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children in educational settings. Further updates will follow as more details emerge from ongoing investigations.