A disturbing surge in insecurity in Northern Nigeria has been underscored by a massive abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State. Initially, reports on Friday indicated that 227 persons, comprising 215 students and 12 teachers, were abducted by terrorists who stormed the school around 2 a.m. This incident immediately triggered widespread panic and condemnation across the nation.

However, a fresh verification exercise and final census conducted by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, revealed a significantly higher number of abductees. Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the CAN Chairman for Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed that 88 additional students were captured after attempting to escape during the attack. This brought the total number of victims to 315, specifically 303 students and 12 teachers. The abducted individuals are reported to be between 10 and 18 years old, and the schools have a combined enrollment of 629 pupils and students.

Amidst the crisis, a contentious claim emerged from the Niger State Government suggesting that the school had ignored a prior warning or circular to shut down before the attack. Most Rev. Yohanna vehemently refuted these allegations, labeling them as “propaganda” and an attempt to shift blame. He clarified that neither the school management, the Education Secretary, nor the National Association of Private Schools received any such directive. The CAN Chairman emphasized that the school, owned by the Catholic Diocese, had previously acted swiftly on security concerns, including closing down in 2022 when rumors of threats arose. He also dismissed claims of Reverend Sisters traveling to Abuja or the school having recently reopened.

In response to the tragic event, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago (also referred to as Mohammed Bago) immediately ordered the closure of all public and private schools, religious schools, the Federal Government College Minna, and the schools of nursing in Bida and Kontagora across the state. Governor Bago described the incident as “unfortunate and avoidable” but stressed the immediate priority was rescue efforts, stating the closures were a precautionary measure and would serve as an early Christmas break given the rising security concerns. He urged security agencies, civil society organizations, organized labor, and religious leaders to unite in rescue operations, assuring the state government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The abduction in Papiri is part of a broader, deteriorating security landscape in Northern Nigeria, characterized by a surge in coordinated attacks on educational institutions. This crisis has led to widespread school closures. The federal government had already ordered the temporary closure of 47 Federal Unity Colleges, mostly in the North, based on security advisories. Similarly, the Katsina State government, through Commissioner Yusuf Jibia, announced the closure of all boarding and day schools, and the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board ordered the closure of all primary and junior secondary schools following intelligence reports. Other states like Kwara, Plateau, Taraba, and Kebbi have also announced similar measures.

The current wave of violence began earlier with an attack in Kebbi State, where armed men abducted at least 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, and killed the school’s vice principal, Hassan Makuku. Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, controversially alleged that military personnel deployed to protect the school were withdrawn less than an hour before the attack, calling for an investigation. The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, canceled his trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to receive security briefings and directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to coordinate rescue efforts in Kebbi. This series of incidents highlights a significant national security crisis.

Condemnation and calls for action have been swift. Rep. Abdullahi Idris Garba, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, denounced the abduction as “tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable,” calling for a swift, coordinated rescue operation, intensified intelligence gathering, and a renewed national strategy prioritizing school safety. Security experts warn that the simultaneous shutdowns signal a widening crisis threatening to paralyze education in Northern Nigeria. UNICEF previously reported that only 37% of schools in 10 conflict-prone states had early warning systems. Community leaders in Niger and Kebbi have called for stronger early warning systems and faster deployments in rural areas, where most recent attacks have occurred.

Search and rescue operations are actively underway in Agwara and neighboring communities, involving security agencies and local hunters, with authorities pledging to use all available resources to locate the children and teachers. Leaders continue to appeal for calm and prayers, urging communities to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements. Governments at all levels are being pressed to invest more in securing rural schools, including providing fencing, surveillance systems, and trained security personnel to deter criminal attacks, recognizing the profound psychological impact of such abductions on victims, families, communities, and the nation’s educational stability.