Breaking News: Bandits Attack St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, Abduct Over 50 Victims

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a shocking incident, armed bandits have attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting at least 52 individuals, including over 40 students and 10-12 staff members. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, marks the second mass school abduction in northern Nigeria this week.

According to reports from local sources, the bandits, estimated to be between 20 and 30 in number fired warning shots and breached the school’s gate from nearby bushland. The assailants raided the hostels, carrying out the abductions before fleeing into the surrounding area. Some local accounts suggest the number of victims could exceed 100, though this has yet to be officially confirmed.

This incident follows a similar attack on November 18, when 25 female students were kidnapped from a school in Maga, Kebbi State. The recurring nature of these abductions has raised serious concerns about security in the region, with mass school kidnappings becoming increasingly common in northern Nigeria.

The Niger State Government has condemned the attack, stating that the school ignored earlier security directives to close boarding facilities in response to heightened threats in the Niger North Senatorial District.

Authorities have launched a full-scale search-and-rescue operation, with security agencies working to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe return of the abducted victims.

As of now, the Niger State Police Command has yet to release an official statement, and efforts are underway to verify the exact number of those taken. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.

Stay tuned for more information as this story unfolds.