MAIDUGURI, Nigeria and LONDON — An unknown number of students and staff were kidnapped by unknown gunmen early Friday in an attack on a Catholic boarding school in western Nigeria, authorities said.
The incident occurred before dawn, around 2 a.m. local time, at St. Mary’s School in Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, according to the Niger State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, which said in a statement that “armed bandits” had “kidnapped a yet-to-be-determined number of students from the school’s hostel.”
“Police tactical units, military components and other security forces have arrived on the scene and are combing the forests with the intention of rescuing the kidnapped students,” police added.
The Niger State Government also confirmed in a statement that it “received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the abduction of students from St. Mary’s School in Agwara Local Government Area,” adding that “the exact number of abducted students is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation.”
Nigerian Police Niger State Command
The statement noted that the “unfortunate incident comes despite earlier warnings from intelligence agencies of heightened threats in part of Niger State and the Governor” ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the affected zone as a precautionary measure.”
“Unfortunately, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without informing or seeking permission from the state government, thereby exposing students and staff to avoidable risks,” Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government of Niger, said in the statement.
According to local media reports, a roll call at the school revealed that 52 students and a number of staff members were missing. ABC News is working to confirm this.
It is the latest in a series of recent attacks by armed groups across Nigeria, including Monday’s kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in nearby Kebbi state. The incidents prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned trips abroad.
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