The Niger State Government has described the abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government Area as “deeply saddening and avoidable,” accusing the school of disregarding explicit security directives.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the government said it was yet to determine the exact number of abducted pupils, as security agencies were still conducting assessments and gathering verified information.
According to the statement, the government had earlier received credible intelligence indicating heightened security threats across parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. Acting on the alert, authorities ordered the suspension of all construction activities and the temporary closure of boarding schools within the affected zone.
However, St. Mary’s School allegedly reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the government — a violation that the SSG said exposed both pupils and staff to “severe and avoidable risk.”
Security agencies have since launched a full-scale investigation as well as intensified search-and-rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the abducted pupils.
“This unfortunate incident comes despite prior intelligence report obtained by the government indicating an increased threat level in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.
“In response to these credible security alerts, the State Government had earlier issued a clear directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure.
“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. Security agencies have since commenced a full-scale investigation and search-and-rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the pupils,” the statement partly read.
The government appealed to school owners, community leaders, and stakeholders to strictly comply with security advisories, stressing that the safety of children remains its top priority. It also urged residents to remain calm and support security agencies with credible information that could aid ongoing rescue efforts.
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Attack: Gunmen on 60 Motorcycles
According to a report by Channels Television, gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in the early hours of Friday and kidnapped an undisclosed number of students.
Sources said the attackers — described as arriving in large numbers — rode on more than 60 motorcycles and were accompanied by a van. They were said to have shot the school’s gatekeeper, leaving him with severe injuries, before carrying out the abduction.
