Niger School Abduction: Terrorists Raid St. Mary’s Hostel, Carry Away Students and Staff.
Police and military operatives have been deployed to St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, following a mass abduction. Suspected bandits invaded the school in the early hours of Friday, reportedly carrying away an unconfirmed number of staff and students, most of whom were girls, to an unknown location. A school source confirmed the incident, stating that the abduction occurred while the students were sleeping. The source noted that “They kidnapped many students, and some who tried to run into the bush were captured,” adding that the Catholic Church is expected to issue a statement soon.
The bandits reportedly stormed the school around 2 a.m., opening fire while the boarding students slept. The gunfire woke the students, but attempts by some to flee into nearby bushes only led them into the hands of the waiting attackers. Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State Police Command spokesperson, confirmed the attack in a statement released on Friday, announcing that a combined team of police and military operatives had been deployed to Papiri for the rescue operation. Abiodun also indicated that action would be taken against the school management for violating a state government directive ordering the closure of schools due to prevailing security threats.
The Niger State Police Command officially confirmed the incident, stating that “on 21st November 2025, at about 2:00 am, reports indicated that armed bandits invaded St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, and abducted an as-yet-uncounted number of students from the school’s hostel.”
PPRO Abiodun noted that police tactical units, military components, and other security agencies have been deployed to the scene and are currently “combing the forests with a view to rescuing the abducted students.” The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, reiterated the command’s commitment to rescuing the students unharmed and urged the public to remain calm and support the security operations. The CP further assured that the incident will be investigated and “necessary action will be taken against the school management” for operating despite the state government’s directive on school closures due to security challenges.
This latest assault closely follows a similar attack in Kebbi State, where over 25 students were abducted, the school’s vice principal was killed, and the principal sustained gunshot injuries. Furthermore, this incident tragically echoes the abduction at Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State, in February 2021. During that attack, no fewer than 42 people, including 27 students, were kidnapped. The Niger Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Muhammad Idris, confirmed the incident and noted that the whereabouts of three teachers remained unknown.
The Commissioner of Information, Muhammad Idris, also disclosed that 12 family members of the teachers were abducted during the attack on Government Science Secondary School, Kagara.
