Terrorists hit another school in Niger State, abducting scores in overnight raid
Just five days after the Kebbi school abduction, armed terrorists struck again—this time targeting St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State. In the early hours of Friday, November 21, 2025, between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., the attackers stormed the school and abducted more than 52 students and staff members.
The incident was confirmed by Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara Local Government, as well as the council chairman’s media aide, Bello Gidi. Speaking with SaharaReporters, Gidi said, “Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State.”
He added that the number of abducted persons might be even higher, stating, “The information reaching us is that they have kidnapped over 100 students and teachers. It’s a mixed school with both boys and girls.”
As of the time of the report, security agencies had not yet released an official statement on the incident.
This latest attack follows the abduction of about 25 female students at Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State earlier in the week, an assault that also left a staff member dead and a school guard injured. That attack occurred around 5:52 a.m., with gunmen entering the school compound as students prepared for morning activities, firing sporadically before making away with the students.
