Bandits Abduct Students, Teachers from Niger Catholic School

Suspected bandits attacked St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State early Friday, abducting an unknown number of students and teachers. Local sources described the raid, which occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., as a well-coordinated operation.

Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara LGA, and Bello Gidi, media aide to the local government chairman, confirmed the incident. Gidi said preliminary reports indicate over 100 students and teachers were kidnapped from the co-educational school, though exact numbers have not been independently verified.

The attack follows a series of similar raids in northern Nigeria. Earlier this month, terrorists abducted about 25 female students from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, killing at least one staff member. Separately, two security operatives were killed during a bandit attack on a police outpost in Rogun Village, Patigi LGA, Kwara State.

Niger State security agencies have yet to issue an official statement. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said authorities are still confirming the details and coordinating efforts to locate the kidnapped students and staff.