The United Nations has denounced the abduction of students and teachers in Niger State, describing the incident as another alarming assault on education in Nigeria’s north.
In a statement on Friday, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the kidnapping of more than 300 pupils and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area was “heartbreaking,” adding that schools must remain secure spaces for learning.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, confirmed the number of victims, with its chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, revealing that 303 schoolchildren and a dozen staff members were taken by armed men who stormed the school premises.
The attack comes just days after another school abduction in Kebbi State, intensifying concerns about the growing vulnerability of educational institutions across the region.
“We have witnessed yet another abduction of pupils in Niger State, occurring only days after the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kebbi,” Dujarric said.
He noted that the UN stands in solidarity with UNICEF and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, in supporting affected families and communities.
Dujarric emphasized the need for urgent action to secure the immediate and safe release of the victims. He added that the recurring attacks underscore the importance of fully implementing the Safe Schools Declaration—an international commitment aimed at protecting education in areas affected by conflict.