***Whisked Away in Two Trucks
Armed men suspected to be bandits invaded a missionary school in Papiri Ward, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours of Friday, abducting more than 100 students.
The attackers stormed St. Mary Primary and Secondary School at about 3:00 a.m., according to community sources. The school, which has operated for over 50 years and runs both day and boarding systems, is renowned for providing quality education across the Borgu Kingdom.
A source in Papiri said the gunmen, heavily armed, first cordoned off the entire area before forcing their way into the hostels, where they marched the students into two waiting Mitsubishi Canter trucks.
“In their usual manner, they shot sporadically into the air to scare everybody away when they arrived,” the source said.
This latest attack comes barely two weeks after gunmen ambushed the convoy of Hon. Jafaru Mohammed Ali, member representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency, in the same area, killing six soldiers.
As of press time, casualties remain unknown, and no statement has been issued by the school management or the Niger State Government.
However, the Niger State Police Command has confirmed the abduction. In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun said, “On 21st November 2025 at about 2:00 a.m., a report was received that some armed bandits invaded St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, and abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained number of students from the school’s hostel.”
He said police tactical units, military components, and other security agencies have been deployed to the area and are already combing the forests in an effort to rescue the abducted students.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, reiterated the Command’s commitment to rescuing the victims unhurt and appealed to the public to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing security operations.
The statement also noted that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, adding that necessary action will be taken against the school management for continuing academic activities despite a state government directive closing schools in the area due to escalating security threats.