The Federal Government has reportedly facilitated the freedom of “100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri,” in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Bandits had attacked the school on 21 November 2025, invading the remote Papiri community in the early hours. Arriving around 2:00 a.m. on motorbikes, the armed group operated for nearly three hours, abducting 315 people—303 students and 12 teachers.
Security personnel, along with community hunters, were immediately dispatched to search surrounding forests. Within the first 24 hours, 50 pupils escaped and were reunited with their families, but 265 individuals—including 253 children and all 12 teachers—remained in captivity.
In response, the Federal Government enforced a 24-hour security cordon and initiated aerial surveillance over parts of Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States. President Bola Tinubu also cancelled scheduled international engagements to directly oversee the crisis. Authorities subsequently ordered the closure of all schools in Niger State and several federal institutions in high-risk areas.
FG’s Assurance
Earlier, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, reassured the families and management of St. Mary’s that the abducted children “are doing fine and will return soon.” He delivered President Tinubu’s message of hope, emphasizing that rescue efforts were advancing and security presence had been strengthened.
“God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back. I give you that assurance,” Ribadu said during his visit to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and the parents of the abducted pupils at St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora.
Details Later…