In a devastating overnight raid, armed bandits kidnapped 227 individuals, including students and teachers, from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State. The attack occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday, November 21, authorities confirmed.
Initial reports left the number of abductees uncertain, but Daniel Atori, media aide to Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, clarified that 215 pupils and students, along with 12 teachers, were taken during the assault.
Yohanna, who also serves as Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, visited the school and met with distraught parents before returning to the village. He assured families that CAN is working closely with government officials, security agencies, and community leaders to secure the safe release of all victims.
“Some students managed to escape during the chaos, and parents have begun taking home those found, leading to the school’s complete closure,” Yohanna said. He called on the public to remain calm and prayerful as rescue efforts intensify, stressing that authorities are coordinating closely to ensure a swift recovery.
The raid follows a recent wave of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria, including the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, raising alarm about the escalating threat to students in the region.
Authorities also noted that the school had reopened without official clearance, despite government advisories directing all boarding schools in the area to temporarily suspend operations due to rising security risks.