Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has assured parents and residents that his government is working “round the clock” with security agencies to rescue the 265 pupils, students, and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area.
The governor gave the assurance while speaking at the state government’s executive retreat for commissioners-designate, chairmen-elect, special advisers, and permanent secretaries in Minna. He said the entire state was in pain over the attack and described the incident as “heartbreaking and condemnable.”
The school was attacked on November 21, 2025, when armed men suspected to be bandits invaded the premises early in the day. The gunmen reportedly shot and injured the security guards on duty before forcing the pupils, students, and teachers into the nearby forest. Local residents said the attack happened so quickly that many families did not know what was happening until the gunmen had already fled with the victims.
Governor Bago, who spoke in an emotional tone during the retreat, said he understood the fear and anxiety gripping parents and guardians of the abducted children. He noted that as a father, he shared in their pain and was committed to doing everything necessary to bring the students and staff back safely.
“Before we go into the sessions ahead, I must speak from the heart on a matter that concerns us all — the unfortunate abduction of schoolchildren and teachers at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri. This has left our state deeply worried,” he said.
“As the chief security officer of the state and a parent myself, I feel the pain of every mother and father anxiously waiting for their children to return home. I want to assure you that we are fully committed to the safety of the children and to securing their release,” he added.
Bago stressed that security forces were already on the trail of the attackers, and that the state government was working closely with the military, police, and other agencies to fast-track the rescue operation. He urged residents to remain calm and support the efforts of the security teams.
The kidnapping of more than 260 people at once is one of the largest mass abductions in recent years in Niger State, which has suffered repeated attacks by bandits operating in forested areas across the state. Communities in Agwara, Rijau, Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi local government areas have frequently come under attack, with schools, markets, and farmlands being major targets.
Schools in rural communities have become particularly vulnerable. In several cases across northern Nigeria, armed groups have stormed school compounds and whisked away dozens of students. The 2014 Chibok abduction in Borno State and the 2021 abduction in Tegina, Niger State, remain some of the most notorious incidents. Many states have since introduced school security programmes, but rural areas remain at high risk due to poor infrastructure and limited government presence.
Parents of the abducted Papiri schoolchildren say they are living in fear, hoping for any information that would confirm the safety of their children. Several mothers who spoke to local journalists said they hardly sleep at night, worrying about what the children might be going through in the forest.
One parent said, “We only want them back alive. Every day we wait and hope that the government will bring our children home.”
Security sources in the state said troops have been deployed to comb the forests between Niger and neighbouring Kebbi State, where the kidnappers are believed to be moving. The terrain, however, makes the pursuit difficult, as many of the forests stretch across hundreds of kilometres and lack proper access roads.
Officials also said they are coordinating with security units from nearby states because criminal groups often move abducted victims across borders to confuse security teams and delay rescue efforts.
Despite these challenges, the governor insisted that the state was determined to secure the release of the children and staff.
“We are working round the clock with all security agencies,” Bago said. “This matter is a priority for us, and we will not rest until we achieve a positive outcome.”
The attack has renewed calls for stronger protection of schools in rural communities, especially at a time when banditry has become a major threat in many parts of northern Nigeria. Education experts warn that repeated school attacks are discouraging enrolment and pushing thousands of children out of formal education.
Human rights groups have also urged the government to speed up the process of implementing the Safe Schools Initiative — a national plan launched in 2014 to strengthen security in schools across the country. The programme has struggled with funding and slow execution in many states.
Despite the fear and uncertainty, residents of Papiri and surrounding communities say they are holding onto hope. Churches, mosques, and traditional leaders have been organising prayer sessions for the safe return of the students and staff.
Governor Bago called on residents to remain united and avoid spreading fear or false information. He assured them that the government would provide regular updates as the rescue operation progresses.
