Overview
- Police confirmed a pre-dawn raid on the private St. Mary’s school in Papiri, Agwara, with students taken from dormitories.
- The exact number abducted has not been disclosed by authorities, while local broadcaster Arise TV reported 52 captives.
- Tactical police units, the military and other agencies have been deployed to comb nearby forests in an ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
- The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora confirmed the abduction and said it is coordinating with security services to secure the victims’ release.
- Niger State opened an investigation, criticized the school for resuming classes despite warnings, and said no group has claimed responsibility; the attack follows the kidnapping of 25 girls in neighboring Kebbi earlier this week.