Over 50 students have reportedly been abducted from Saint Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attack occurred around 2 a.m. on Friday.
Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, confirmed the incident but said the exact number of abducted students is still being verified.
It said it had earlier directed the closure of all boarding schools and the suspension of construction activities in the area following intelligence reports of heightened security threats in parts of the Niger North Senatorial District.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the students.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said tactical units, alongside military components and other security operatives, had been deployed to the area.
Abiodun stated that the combined security forces were currently conducting extensive search operations across the surrounding forests in an effort to ensure the immediate and safe rescue of the abducted students.
Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, called on residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives by providing credible information that could assist ongoing rescue efforts.
Elleman, however, said that the incident would be thoroughly investigated, stressing that appropriate actions would be taken against the school management for continuing academic activities despite the state government’s earlier directive ordering the closure of schools in the area due to heightened security threats.
