Terrorists Abduct Unidentified Numbers of Students, Tachers from Niger Boarding School in Midnight Attack

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Armed militants who stormed a boarding school named St. Mary School located within Papiri community in Niger State have reportedly abducted an unspecified number of students and teachers in a coordinated overnight raid.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA OTN News reports as gathered that the attack, which occurred around midnight, marks a fresh escalation of violence in the region already grappling with increasing militant attacks.

Papiri lies just seven kilometres from Babana, where Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda–linked Sahelian jihadist group announced its presence in July, raising long-standing fears of cross-border infiltration and expanding extremist cells.

According to a local source in nearby Rofia, the attackers arrived in large numbers, riding about 60 motorcycles and accompanied by a van used to pack the students and teachers before speeding away into the night.

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, in an official response to the development has condemned the attack in strong terms, expressing deep concerns for the safety of the kidnapped children and staff.

 The Diocese confirmed the abductions, stating that security agencies were immediately notified. 

Meanwhile, coordinated rescue efforts are already underway, with the Church working closely with security operatives, community leaders, and government authorities to secure the victims’ safe return.

The Diocese urged the public to remain calm, support ongoing security operations, and continue praying for the safe and quick release of all those taken.

 It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and promised to provide further updates as verified information emerges.

“May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect his people from all danger,” the statement concluded.

While official figures are yet to be released, multiple residents revealed the number of abductees may be as high as 100. Bello Gidi, spokesperson for Agwara Local Government chairperson Ilyasu Zakari, confirmed the incident and said authorities were working to verify details and coordinate a response. The attack comes less than a week after the mass abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, compounding growing concerns about the resurgence of large-scale school kidnappings in northern Nigeria.

Further details on this development will be published in due course.