Early Friday, terrorists abducted some students and teachers from St. Mary School in Papiri, Niger State, deepening Nigeria’s mounting security crisis.
An unconfirmed number of students and staff have been abducted from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area in Niger State.
According to a statement from Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph, Diocesan Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the early hours of November 21, 2025. Several pupils, students, teachers and a security guard who was badly shot were taken during the attack.
Fr. Joseph said the incident happened between 1am and 3am, leaving the school community in shock and fear.
The abduction comes only days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, deepening concerns over rising insecurity in schools across the region. On Thursday, more than 50 schools were shut down in parts of Kwara State following persistent bandit attacks.
The Diocese confirmed that security agencies were alerted immediately and have begun coordinated efforts to secure the safe return of the victims.
