Breaking: Federal Government Secures Freedom of 100 Schoolchildren Kidnapped in Niger State

By Admin
The Federal Government has successfully facilitated the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, located in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred on 21 November 2025 when armed bandits stormed the remote Papiri community. Arriving around 2:00 a.m. on motorbikes, the attackers raided the school dormitories over a span of three hours, abducting a total of 315 people—comprising 303 students and 12 teachers.

In response, security operatives and local hunters were deployed to search surrounding forests for the captives.

Within the first 24 hours, 50 pupils managed to escape and were reunited with their families. However, 265 individuals—including 253 students and all 12 teachers—remained in captivity.

The Federal Government immediately initiated a 24-hour security lockdown and launched aerial surveillance over affected areas in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States. President Bola Tinubu also cancelled scheduled international engagements to oversee the response efforts.

Authorities further ordered the indefinite closure of all schools in Niger State, along with several federal institutions in high-risk regions, as part of a broader security measure.