Niger Government Expresses Sadness Over Abduction of St Mary’s School Pupils, Says School Disobeyed Security Advisory
Written by News Desk on November 21, 2025
Niger State Government has claimed that the management of Saint Mary’s School, Papiri area of Agwara Local Government, where some pupils were abducted, violated an earlier directive to shut schools within Niger North Senatorial District.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the government said it received credible intelligence indicating elevated security threats across parts of the Niger North Senatorial District.
The statement notes that the State Government, acting on these reports, directed the suspension of all construction activities and the temporary closure of boarding schools within the affected areas as a proactive safety measure.
According to the statement, St. Mary’s School allegedly reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or obtaining clearance from the government, despite the directive.
The statement states that the government appealed to school owners, community leaders, and stakeholders across the state to strictly adhere to all security advisories issued in the interest of public safety.
The statement, however, notes that the Niger State Government condemned the abduction, describing the incident as deeply saddening and avoidable.
In the statement, the government confirmed that the exact number of abducted pupils has not yet been established, as security agencies are still carrying out assessments and gathering accurate information.
Gunmen reportedly kidnapped an undisclosed number of students during an attack on St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Niger State.
It was learnt that the attackers stormed the school, said to be a private Catholic school located in the Agwara Local Government Area of the state, in the early hours of Friday.
Sources said the gunmen arrived in large numbers, riding on over 60 motorcycles and accompanied by a van.
They were said to have shot the school’s gatekeeper, leaving him with serious injuries.
