MAIDUGURI, Nigeria and LONDON – An unknown number of students and staff were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in an attack on a Catholic boarding school in western Nigeria early Friday, authorities said.
The incident occurred before dawn, around 2 a.m. local time, at St. Mary’s School in Papiri community of Agwara local government area of Niger state, according to the Niger State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, which said in a statement that “armed bandits” had “kidnapped a yet to be determined number of students from the school’s hostel.”
“Police tactical units, military components and other security agencies have moved to the scene, combing the forests with a view to rescuing the kidnapped students,” the police added.
The Niger State Government also confirmed in a statement that it “has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s School in Agwara Local Government Area”, adding that “the exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation.”
An unknown number of students and staff were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in an attack on a Catholic boarding school in western Nigeria early Friday, authorities said.
Nigerian Police Force Niger State Command
The statement noted that the “unfortunate incident occurs despite previous intelligence services” warning of increased threats in part of Niger State and that the governor “ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected area as a precautionary measure.”
“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking permission from the state government, thereby exposing students and staff to avoidable risks,” Abubakar Usman, secretary of the Niger state government, said in the statement.
Local media reports say a roll call at the school revealed 52 students are missing, as well as several staff members. ABC News is working to confirm this.
It is the latest in a series of recent attacks by armed groups across Nigeria, including the abduction on Monday of 25 schoolchildren in nearby Kebbi state. The incidents have prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned trips abroad.
