Abuja / Minna — In a grave escalation of school-targeted violence, Islamic Jihadist terrorists reportedly invaded St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting dozens of students and teachers, Dalena Reporters has learned.
According to Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, the Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara LGA, the attack occurred at around 2:00–3:00 a.m., suggesting a coordinated, premeditated operation. Bello Gidi, media aide to the Chairman of Agwara LGA, confirmed that the assailants whisked away “over 100 students and teachers.
Eyewitnesses report that the gunmen opened sporadic fire as they stormed the school compound, throwing the campus into chaos. While community sources say “more than a dozen” students were taken, local rumors suggest the number may be significantly higher; the exact figure is still unverified.
As of now, Niger State’s police force has yet to issue a detailed public statement on the incident. Meanwhile, the state government has acknowledged the attack. According to Vanguard, over 50 students were reportedly taken.
The abduction comes just days after a similar terror attack in Kebbi State, where gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls from a girls’ secondary school.
Security analysts are warning that the spate of kidnappings underscores a deteriorating pattern of terrorists targeting educational institutions — a development that demands urgent government action.
— Dalena Reporters