Ademola Busayo 
The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that 227 people,215 students and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s School, Papiri, Agwara LGA. CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, said he visited the community and assured parents that efforts with government and security agencies are ongoing to secure the release of the abductees.
Some students escaped, and parents have started picking up children, forcing the school to shut down. The attack occurred around 2 a.m., with gunmen killing a security guard before abducting the students.
A truck used to move the victims broke down, and the attackers continued on foot into the forest. The Niger State government blamed the school for reopening despite prior intelligence on increased security threats.
Police confirmed the abduction and deployed tactical units with the military to rescue the students. Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora added that a security operative was seriously injured. The incident reflects a broader trend of school attacks in northern Nigeria, leading to closures in several states, including Niger, Kwara, Katsina, and Plateau.
The Federal Ministry of Education also ordered the immediate shutdown of 41 federal unity colleges nationwide due to security concerns. Reports indicate over 1,500 schoolchildren have been abducted in northern Nigeria since 2014, with attacks spreading beyond conflict-prone areas.
Experts highlight the psychological trauma, disruption to education, and economic motivations behind ransom-driven kidnappings. While initiatives like the Safe Schools Declaration and NSCDC protection exist, implementation gaps continue to expose students and staff to repeated risks.
About the Author
Emmanuel Femi Adedayo 
Ayo Marvel 
