The Federal Government has reportedly succeeded in freeing 100 pupils kidnapped from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attack, which occurred on 21 November 2025, threw the remote community into turmoil after armed bandits arrived around 2:00 a.m., using motorbikes to invade the school grounds. Over a span of three hours, the assailants moved through the dormitories and seized 315 individuals, including 303 pupils and 12 teachers, sparking one of the most significant school abductions in recent years.
Security operatives and local hunters were immediately deployed to track the captors, combing surrounding forests for the missing individuals. Within the first twenty-four hours, 50 pupils managed to flee their captors and were reunited with anxious families. Despite this initial relief, 265 people, comprising 253 schoolchildren and all 12 staff, remained in captivity as authorities intensified their rescue operations.
In the early response to the tragedy, the Niger State Government issued a strong condemnation of the attack through a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman. The government disclosed that it had previously received credible warnings pointing to mounting security threats across parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. As a preventive step, officials directed that construction activities be halted and ordered the temporary shutdown of boarding schools within potentially vulnerable locations to reduce risks.
Tension rose further when the state government alleged that the affected school had resumed activities without obtaining required clearance, an assertion the school administrators firmly rejected. The incident drew nationwide attention and international concern, including comments from global religious leaders such as Pope Leo XIV.
In reaction, the Federal Government deployed sweeping security measures across the region, enforcing a 24-hour security cordon and initiating aerial surveillance missions spanning portions of Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States. President Bola Tinubu cancelled planned foreign travel to focus entirely on the crisis and directed the immediate closure of all schools in Niger State as well as several federal institutions in high-risk environments.
As anxiety heightened among families, reassurance came last Monday from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. During a visit to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and the parents of the abducted pupils at St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora, Ribadu conveyed the President’s message of comfort.
He insisted the children “are doing fine and will return soon,” adding that security efforts had been strengthened and progress was being made toward securing their safe return. Emphasising hope, Ribadu said, “God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back. I give you that assurance.”
What you should know
The Papiri school abduction triggered a nationwide outcry and placed intense pressure on security agencies to demonstrate rapid and coordinated action.
While early escapes offered some relief, hundreds of pupils and teachers remained in captivity, prompting expansive federal intervention that included air surveillance and widespread school closures. The Federal Government’s confirmation of the release of 100 children represents a significant breakthrough, even as efforts continue for the remaining hostages.
The episode underscores the deepening security challenges across northern Nigeria and the urgent need for structural improvements to safeguard educational institutions.
