More than 50 children were abducted from St Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara, Niger State, Nigeria by armed terrorists. The attack occurred in the early hours of Friday morning. Security forces, including police tactical units and military personnel, are conducting search operations in the surrounding forests to locate the abducted students. The exact number and identities of the kidnapped students have not been officially disclosed yet.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the abduction, stating that armed bandits invaded the school’s hostel and took an unknown number of students. Authorities are determined to rescue the students safely. The police expressed concern over the school being open despite security challenges and promised to investigate the matter.
In a similar incident, armed bandits recently attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi, where 26 students were abducted. Two students managed to escape, but 24 schoolgirls remain in captivity. The situation has been described as traumatic for both families and the school administration. Authorities are working diligently to secure the release of the remaining abducted students.
These incidents highlight the ongoing security threats faced by schools in the region, prompting calls for increased vigilance and adherence to security directives.