Niger Govt Blames Catholic School for Pupils’ Abduction, Says Reopening Unauthorised
The Niger State Government has confirmed the abduction of students from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, and has placed blame for the incident squarely on the school administration for reopening without authorisation.
In an official press release, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, stated that the attack occurred despite a prior security directive ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the zone due to heightened intelligence warnings.
“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,” the statement read.
While the state government has not confirmed a specific number of victims, local officials provided a staggering figure. Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara LGA, and Bello Gidi, media aide to the local government chairman, both confirmed the attack. Gidi revealed that preliminary information indicates “over 100 students and teachers” were kidnapped from the mixed-gender school.
The Niger State Police Command, in a separate statement by SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that armed bandits invaded the school around 2:00 a.m. and abducted an unconfirmed number of students from their hostels.
The statement confirmed that tactical units and military components have been deployed and are combing surrounding forests in a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
Echoing the state government’s position, the Police Commissioner stated that the incident will be investigated and “necessary action will be taken against the school management for continuing academic activities, contrary to the State government directive.”
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