The Niger State Police Command has verified a violent attack on St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, where armed bandits abducted an unspecified number of students from the school hostel in the early hours of Friday.
According to SP Wasiu Abiodun, the police, together with military and other security agencies, have launched a full-scale operation, combing nearby forests to locate and safely rescue the abducted pupils.
Abiodun added that Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, is closely supervising the rescue mission. Residents have been urged to remain calm and cooperate with authorities to facilitate the ongoing security operation.
The police further revealed that the school administration could face investigation for continuing academic activities despite state directives ordering the closure of schools in high-risk areas due to security threats.