Armed men attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in the Papiri community of Agwara, Niger State, early Friday and abducted several students and staff, the state government confirmed.
The raid took place around 2:00 a.m., according to the Niger State Police Command. Security and military units have been deployed to comb nearby forests for the missing school members.
Niger State officials said the attack came despite earlier intelligence warning of increased risk in the region. They blamed the school for resuming classes without notifying authorities.
Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, head of disaster and relief for Agwara Local Government, confirmed the incident. He said the exact number of abducted people is still being verified.
The state government called the abduction “deeply distressing.” It reiterated its commitment to working with security agencies to bring the students and staff home safely.
The attack highlights the growing threat to educational institutions. In recent months, similar raids have raised alarm over the safety of schools in Nigeria.
