Niger Govt Blames St. Mary’s Catholic School For Pupils’ Abduction

The Niger State Government has condemned the abduction of pupils and teachers from St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Senior Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, blaming the school for failing to comply with security directives issued earlier in the region.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Abubakar Usman, the government described the incident as “regrettable and avoidable,” noting that security intelligence had warned of heightened threats in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.

“This unfortunate incident comes despite prior intelligence report obtained by the government indicating an increased threat level in parts of Niger North Senatorial District,” the statement read.

According to the SSG, the government had ordered boarding schools in the affected zone to suspend academic activities and halt all construction work as a precautionary measure.

However, St. Mary’s School allegedly proceeded to reopen without notification or approval, violating the security advisory.

“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,” Mr Usman said.

Security agencies are still determining the number of students and teachers abducted during the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday — between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.

The government said search-and-rescue operations have commenced, and security formations are working together to ensure the safe return of all victims.

The SSG urged school owners, community leaders, and stakeholders to comply strictly with security advisories, stressing that pupils’ safety remains a top priority.

“The Niger State Government is in close communication with all relevant security formations and will provide continuous updates as more information becomes available,” the statement added.

“We call on the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing any useful information that may aid ongoing efforts.”