Reported by: Agande Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Niger State Government has officially confirmed the kidnapping of students and staff from Saint Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. The attack reportedly occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday, as armed bandits stormed the Catholic institution.
Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief in Agwara LGA, acknowledged the incident but provided limited details regarding the exact number of abducted students and staff.
In a statement, Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government, revealed that the school had ignored an earlier government directive to close all boarding schools in the area due to security intelligence reports. “The school defied the warning and resumed activities,” Usman said, highlighting the risks that contributed to the tragedy.
Authorities have reiterated the need for strict adherence to security advisories to prevent further incidents in the state, which has been grappling with recurrent attacks on schools. Efforts are reportedly ongoing to locate and safely rescue the abducted students and staff.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of educational institutions in Niger State, particularly those operating in high-risk areas, and underscores the importance of collaboration between school management and security agencies.
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