By Sunkanmi Adewunmi
In the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 21, 2025, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in the Papiri community of Agwara LGA, Niger State. According to officials, more than 200 pupils (ages 12–17) and 12 teachers were abducted in the raid. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that bandits seized about 215 students and a dozen staff members during the assault. St. Mary’s, a secondary school with dozens of classrooms and dormitories along the Yelwa–Mokwa road, was targeted around 2 a.m. The Niger State Police Command confirmed that “armed bandits” stormed the campus and kidnapped an undetermined number of students from the school hostel. This Papiri school abduction – one of the worst in Niger State in years – has drawn nationwide attention to the crisis of school kidnappings in northern Nigeria.
Official Response and Security Measures
Niger State officials swiftly condemned the attack and launched rescue operations, deploying police tactical teams and military units to comb nearby forests. The government said it was “deeply saddened” by the abduction and noted that the exact number of missing pupils was still being verified. Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, criticised the school for reopening despite official warnings, saying St. Mary’s resumed classes without clearance and “exposed pupils and staff to avoidable risk.” Earlier, the governor had ordered all boarding schools in the area to remain closed amid escalating bandit threats.
The Nigeria Police noted that no official security personnel were on duty during the attack—only private guards who fled—highlighting the vulnerability of remote schools. Authorities say a full search-and-rescue operation is underway, with police and military patrols now surrounding Papiri and checkpoints mounted on nearby roads. The state government has also urged community cooperation and advised parents to keep at-risk boarding schools closed until security improves.
Community Impact and Eyewitness Accounts
The abduction has left Papiri residents and families in shock. Survivors fled into the bush, and some students escaped to alert relatives. Sixty-two-year-old farmer Dauda Chekula, whose four grandchildren were taken, said the escapees “scattered” and the family has had “no news since morning.” The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora reported that a school maintenance worker was “badly shot” during the attack.
Across Niger State, parents are gathering at briefing points and hotlines for updates, with many withdrawing children from nearby boarding schools. Social media is flooded with #BringBackOurChildren and calls for action. Lagos-based blogger Eze Gloria, who previously paid ransom for a kidnapped relative, criticized authorities, saying, “Your job is to protect lives… People’s lives should matter to you.”
School Abductions in Northern Nigeria: Context
Nigeria has faced repeated school kidnappings in recent years, particularly in the north. Since the 2014 Chibok abduction, analysts estimate that more than 1,500 students have been taken by armed groups. Militants and criminal gangs often target schools for ransom, as seen in the 2021 Kagara incident where 135 boys were seized, and a recent Kebbi attack that left 25 girls abducted. Security experts note that many of these groups—ranging from Boko Haram and ISWAP to loosely organized bandits—exploit vulnerable rural schools with limited protection.
The Papiri abduction fits into this broader pattern. Earlier this month, militants ambushed a school in Katsina, killing two students, while five security personnel died trying to prevent another attack in the same state. With fear rising among parents, the Education Ministry has held emergency meetings on relocating high-risk schools and upgrading security, though many institutions across central and northern Nigeria remain partially closed or on heightened alert.
Impact on Students, Families and Calls for Security
The Papiri kidnapping has deeply shaken students and families. Children now face trauma, and many parents fear returning them to boarding schools. Some communities have already increased security with new walls, night patrols, and local vigilante training, though resources remain limited. Teachers and parent associations are calling for stronger measures, including funded security staff and emergency communication systems.
Families describe ongoing emotional strain, with one mother saying, “We pray every minute.” Past victims’ relatives, frustrated by ransom payments and delayed responses, are demanding accountability. Pastor Yohanna Buru urged authorities to strengthen school protection, warning that persistent kidnappings show “the government is not doing enough.”
Actions Taken and Next Steps
Niger State authorities have launched a major search effort, deploying police units and soldiers around Papiri and blocking possible escape routes. All boarding schools in the northern zone have been shut pending government clearance. Community and religious leaders, including Pastor Buru, are urging residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity. The federal government has approved emergency security funds and promised increased military patrols, while citizens hold vigils and online campaigns for the victims’ safe return. Tension remains high, and the St. Mary’s abduction has renewed calls for lasting school-security reforms—from better-equipped Civil Defense units to floodlights and alarm systems—so children can learn without fear.
