The abduction occurred at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, where armed men stormed the premises in the early hours of the morning. Witnesses said the attackers arrived heavily armed, overwhelming local security before whisking away the children and staff.
Authorities confirmed that 215 pupils were taken, making it one of the largest school kidnappings in recent years. The incident has reignited painful memories of the Chibok (2014) and Dapchi (2018) abductions, which drew global outrage.
In response, the Federal Ministry of Education and several state governments announced the temporary closure of schools in high-risk areas, citing the need to safeguard students while security operations intensify.
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State described the attack as “a national tragedy,” while parents gathered at the school grounds in anguish, demanding urgent government action.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for a state of emergency on insecurity, warning that Nigeria’s future is at risk if children cannot safely attend school. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security agencies to launch immediate rescue operations, while Vice President Kashim Shettima pledged federal support for affected families.
Security analysts say the mass abduction underscores the worsening terrorism crisis in northern Nigeria, where extremist groups and bandits exploit porous borders and weak intelligence coordination.
