Fifty-two schoolchildren and an undetermined number of staff were abducted by armed bandits from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in the Papiri community of Niger State, Nigeria, during an attack in the early morning hours of Friday. The incident is the latest in a series of security challenges affecting educational institutions in the region.
Story Highlights
- Armed bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in the Papiri community, Niger State, at approximately 2 a.m. on Friday.
- Fifty-two schoolchildren were forcibly removed from their dormitories.
- An undetermined number of faculty and staff were also taken hostage.
- The Agwara region of Niger State has seen an increase in attacks targeting Christian educational institutions.
Midnight Attack at St. Mary’s School
Armed individuals launched an assault on St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in the Papiri community of Niger State early Friday morning. The attack occurred at approximately 2 a.m. local time. Reports indicate that school security was overwhelmed, leading to the forced removal of at least 52 schoolchildren from their dormitories. An undetermined number of faculty and staff members were also taken hostage.
A night of terror in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State. Armed men stormed St. Mary’s School, killing the security guard and abducting 215 pupils and 12 teachers.
Some students managed to escape, and parents have begun picking up their children, forcing the school to close. CAN’s… pic.twitter.com/WijrcFT9WI
— 99Pluz (@99Pluz) November 22, 2025
Context in Niger State
The Agwara region of Niger State has been identified as an area of increased security risk for communities and educational institutions. This event is consistent with a pattern of targeting Catholic schools and churches by non-state armed groups. The remote nature of Niger State and reports of a limited security presence have been cited as factors contributing to the frequency of these incidents.
Broader Security Concerns
The kidnapping is part of a broader series of attacks targeting the population in Nigeria’s northern and middle belt regions. Religious institutions, particularly Catholic schools, have become targets for armed groups, with stated motives reportedly including seeking ransom and intimidating local communities. The targeting of children at religious schools has been noted as a strategic element of these attacks.
International Response
Reports indicate that attacks against Christian communities and institutions in Nigeria receive varying levels of international media and governmental attention. The text suggests this perceived lack of sustained focus may be a factor that emboldens criminal organizations operating in the region.
Watch the report: Terrorists Abduct Students From St. Mary’s School In Niger State + More | News @ 5
Sources
Niger state kidnapping: More than 200 pupils abducted from catholic school
