According to The Sun, eyewitnesses disclose that the attackers invaded the school during school hours and whisked away several pupils.
The exact number of abducted children could not be immediately confirmed as frantic efforts were ongoing to reach the Nasarawa State Police Command for official details.
Plateau News reports that the incident occurred barely hours after the Niger State Government confirmed that pupils and staff of St. Mary’s School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, were kidnapped during an early-morning raid between 2am and 3am.
Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman, described the Niger incident as “deeply distressing and avoidable,” noting that the Catholic-run school reopened without government clearance despite security warnings in the region.
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and staff to avoidable risk,” he said.
Security agencies have since launched a full-scale search-and-rescue operation in both states.
Head of Disaster and Relief in Agwara LGA, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the Niger attack, while the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, noted that an official update would be issued after security assessment is completed.
Friday’s abduction adds to an escalating pattern of attacks across northern communities.
Recall that 25 students were kidnapped in Maga, Kebbi State, while in Kwara State terrorists attacked a CAC church in Eruku, killing three worshippers and abducting over 20 people. The Kwara government subsequently shut down more than 50 schools over security concerns.
The repeated assaults have heightened anxiety, with parents, school owners, and community leaders urging government authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, enforce safety directives, and increase patrols around vulnerable institutions.
Plateau News