Niger State Government Confirms Abduction of Pupils in Agwara, Faults School for Ignoring Security Warning
The Niger State Government has confirmed that students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area, describing the incident as “deeply distressing and avoidable.”
In a statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Abubakar Usman, officials said they are still working to determine the exact number of people taken, as security agencies conduct assessments.
The government revealed that it had received credible intelligence warning of heightened threat levels in parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. In response, authorities had previously ordered a temporary closure of all boarding schools in that area and suspended construction work.
However, according to the SSG, St. Mary’s School “reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government,” a decision the government says exposed pupils and staff to unnecessary risk.
Meanwhile, law enforcement and the military have launched a full‑scale search and rescue operation to recover those abducted.
Police tactical units, alongside other security forces, are combing surrounding forests, according to Niger State Police.
The government has called on school proprietors, community leaders, and stakeholders to strictly comply with security directives, emphasizing that safeguarding the lives of children is its top priority.
Residents were urged to remain calm and assist security forces with credible information that could aid rescue efforts.
The reported attack is part of a broader surge in school kidnappings across northern Nigeria.