ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Armed men launched a brutal attack on a Catholic school located in the Agwara local government area of Niger State, Nigeria, early on Friday morning, leading to the abduction of several schoolchildren and staff members. This incident follows closely on the heels of a prior abduction where 25 schoolgirls were taken from a neighboring Kebbi State just days earlier.
The assailants targeted St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community, according to Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger State government. While specific details regarding the exact number of abductees remain unclear, local media outlet Arise TV reported that as many as 52 schoolchildren have been kidnapped during the incident.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed that the abductions occurred in the early hours of Friday. In response to the alarming situation, military and security forces have been deployed to the affected area to assist in the search and recovery efforts.
Insider accounts claim that the attack happened despite the existence of prior intelligence warnings regarding increased threats to local schools. The secretary to the Niger State government expressed concern, stating, “Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk.”
This latest wave of abductions raises serious concerns about school safety in Nigeria, where such incidents have become distressingly common. The fears are compounded by the recent face of violence seen in Kebbi State, where gunmen also attacked a high school, kidnapping 25 schoolgirls and resulting in the death of at least one staff member.
While the identity of the perpetrators behind the recent abductions in both Niger and Kebbi states has not been definitively established, the ongoing insecurity across Nigeria is largely attributed to two main groups: the notorious Boko Haram insurgency, known for the mass abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls over a decade ago, and rampant groups of bandits operating in the region.
This incident highlights the persistent threat of violence and insecurity that families and educational institutions face in Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for effective security measures and governmental intervention to protect children and staff within educational settings.
