BREAKING: Terrorists Invade Catholic School In Niger State, Kidnap Dozens Of Students Five Days After Kebbi Attack

Terrorists in the early hours of Friday morning stormed St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting an unspecified number of students and teachers, SaharaReporters has learnt.

Multiple community sources who visited the school after the attack confirmed the invasion, describing it as a coordinated operation that lasted between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.

Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, the Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara Local Government, also confirmed the incident, alongside Bello Gidi, media aide to the Chairman of Agwara Local Government.

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 further revealed the scale of the attack, stating, “The information that is reaching us is that they have kidnapped over 100 students and teachers. Also, it is a mixed school with boys and girls.”

However, SaharaReporters notes that the exact number of abducted persons remains unclear. Community members who spoke to our correspondent said the attackers whisked away “more than a dozen” children, but the figures circulating locally have not been independently verified.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement.

When contacted, Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said he was still making efforts to confirm the incident.

The attack comes five days after terrorists stormed the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, abducting about 25 female students and killing at least one staff member. 

A school guard was also injured during the attack, which occurred around 5:52 am.

The attackers invaded the school compound while the students were preparing for morning routines, launching their assault with sporadic gunfire.

SaharaReporters also gathered that the gunmen not only abducted several female students but also left a trail of fear and chaos in their wake.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that terrorists launched a deadly attack on Rogun Village in Kpada District of Patigi Local Government Area, Kwara State, killing two security operatives. 

A security source told SaharaReporters on Monday that the incident occurred late Sunday night when the terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, stormed the police outpost in Rogun and opened fire on officers on duty.

According to the source, the attackers engaged the security personnel in a fierce gun duel that lasted several minutes.