St Mary’s Catholic School Raid: Hundreds Kidnapped in Niger State

The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that 227 people—including 215 pupils and students and 12 teachers—were abducted during a violent overnight raid at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday, November 21.

Daniel Atori, media aide to CAN chairman Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, clarified the numbers after initial reports were unclear. Some students managed to escape during the chaos, and parents have begun collecting those found, prompting the school to shut down entirely.

Yohanna, also Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, visited the school and met with distraught parents, assuring them that CAN is collaborating with government officials, security agencies, and community leaders to secure the safe release of the abductees. He stated:

"I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely… I want to assure you that we are actively collaborating with security operatives, community leaders, and government authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees."

The Niger State government had earlier disclosed that the school reopened without official clearance, despite advisories directing boarding schools in the area to suspend operations due to escalating security threats.

This latest attack comes just days after 25 female students were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, intensifying fears across northern Nigeria as attacks on schools surge.

Keywords/Focus for readers: Niger State, St. Mary’s School, 227 abducted, pupils and teachers, CAN, security agencies, rescue efforts, school closures, northern Nigeria, escalating insecurity.