The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has confirmed that 227 persons — including 215 pupils and students as well as 12 teachers — were abducted during Friday’s deadly raid on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
The attack, carried out between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., initially left the number of victims uncertain. Multiple sources who visited the scene described the incursion as a coordinated assault in which armed bandits overpowered local security presence before herding away scores of learners and staff.
In an update released Friday evening, Daniel Atori, media aide to the CAN chairman, clarified the scale of the abduction.
“A total of 215 pupils and students, including 12 teachers, were taken,” Atori said.
The attack was first reported by SaharaReporters, and was later confirmed by local officials including Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara LGA, and Bello Gidi, media aide to the council chairman.
Speaking earlier, Gidi told Chronicles Reporters:
“Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA.”
He added that early information suggested more than 100 people had been taken, noting the school is co-educational.
In a twist that has ignited debate across the state, the Niger State Government has faulted the management of St. Mary’s Schools for allegedly violating a security directive issued weeks earlier.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the government said it received news of the abduction “with deep sadness,” but insisted the school reopened despite a warning about rising threats in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.
According to the SSG, intelligence reports had indicated an “increased threat level” in the area. In response, the government said it temporarily suspended all boarding school operations and halted construction activities within the affected zone.
“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 staff to avoidable risk,” the statement read.
The government also noted that the “exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed,” as security agencies continue their assessment — a position that now contrasts with CAN’s confirmed tally.
The abduction at St. Mary’s adds to a distressing pattern of school attacks across northern Nigeria, where mass kidnappings have become a recurring strategy for armed groups seeking ransom or political leverage.
The incident has intensified public outrage, with parents and religious bodies accusing authorities of failing to protect vulnerable communities despite repeated intelligence warnings. Security operations are ongoing, though families say they are yet to receive clear updates on rescue efforts.
Niger State has previously shut down schools in high-risk areas following intelligence alerts, but the attack underscores persistent gaps in on-ground enforcement and community-level protection.