Police, Military Deploy to Rescue Students Abducted from St. Mary’s Secondary School

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that armed bandits attacked St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, abducting an unspecified number of students in the early hours of Friday, 21 November 2025.

According to police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun, the incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. when the assailants stormed the school’s hostel and took several students into the surrounding forest.

Security forces, including police tactical teams, military units and other agencies, have since been deployed to the area and are currently combing the forests in an intensive search-and-rescue operation.

Commissioner of Police Adamu Abdullahi Elleman reaffirmed the command’s commitment to rescuing the students unharmed. He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing security efforts.

The Commissioner also noted that the school management may face sanctions for continuing academic activities despite a government directive ordering the closure of schools in the area due to prevailing security threats.

The police say investigations are underway, and further updates will be provided as rescue operations continue.