Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has ordered the closure of public and private schools in the state following the kidnapping of 300 pupils, students, and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, when armed men invaded the school community and whisked away students, teachers and other staff members.
The attackers were said to have operated for several hours, leaving families and residents in deep panic.
The abduction has drawn widespread condemnation, with education stakeholders expressing worry over the rising trend of school-targeted attacks in the region.
After the incident, the federal government shut down 47 Unity Schools across the country, while states such as Kwara, Plateau, Taraba, and Kebbi have announced the same measure.
Mr Bago said the mass abduction in his state was “a heartbreaking assault on our children” and required urgent, far-reaching action.
He said the shutdown of schools statewide was a precautionary measure taken to prevent further attacks while security agencies intensified rescue operations.
“This action underscores the government’s highest priority, the safety of every child in Niger State,” the governor said. “We cannot afford additional vulnerabilities, and we will take every necessary measure to protect our students and education workers.”
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The governor assured that security formations had been reinforced across vulnerable communities and that efforts to rescue the kidnapped victims were already underway.
He urged residents to remain calm and assist security agencies with credible intelligence.
The attack on St. Mary’s has once again highlighted the persistent security challenges confronting Niger State, reviving calls for stronger protection strategies for schools, especially in remote communities.
The government’s sweeping directive marks one of its most decisive steps yet as it races against time to secure the safe return of the abducted learners and staff.
