Terrorists attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State early Friday morning, kidnapping 215 pupils and 12 teachers.
The attackers reportedly stormed the school around 2 a.m., firing shots into the air as students and teachers fled in panic. Many pupils escaped by jumping over the school fence and hiding in nearby bushes. Some of them returned to the school by 6 a.m.
A source from the Catholic Diocese of Kotangora, speaking anonymously, said more than 300 students were initially unaccounted for after the attack, though several later found their way back.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed that 227 people — including the pupils and teachers — remain in captivity. He said he had visited the community and assured parents that church leaders, security agencies, and government officials were working together to secure the safe return of the children.
The mass abduction has heightened fear nationwide. Many schools, both private and public, have suspended examinations and shut down temporarily over concerns of similar attacks. Nigerians are also increasingly avoiding public gatherings and events due to rising insecurity and the threat of kidnapping.
