Niger State Government Blames St. Mary’s School For Mass Abduction Of Pupils

Nov 21, 2025

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The Niger State Government has blamed the management of St. Mary’s Papiri Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area for the mass abduction of its pupils, saying the school violated a security directive issued weeks before the attack.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the government said it received news of the kidnapping “with deep sadness,” adding that the exact number of abducted pupils was still being compiled by security agencies.

According to the SSG, the state had earlier received intelligence pointing to “an increased threat level in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.” Acting on the warning, the government said it issued a directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the vulnerable zone as a precaution.

However, the government said the management of St. Mary’s School ignored the order.
“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 staff to avoidable risk,” the statement read.

Friday’s attack is the first officially acknowledged by the state since armed terrorists stormed the school in the early hours of the morning, abducting a large number of students and staff.

Community members who visited the school shortly after the incident described the raid as a coordinated operation that lasted between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.
The Head of Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, and Bello Gidi, media aide to the council chairman, confirmed the incident.

Gidi told Newsmen: “Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State. The information reaching us is that they have kidnapped over 100 students and teachers. The school is a mixed school—boys and girls.”
Security operations to locate and rescue the abducted pupils are ongoing.