No fewer than 215 pupils and 12 teachers were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, when terrorists invaded the school on Friday.
The bloodthirsty assailants attacked the school in the early hours of Friday and abducted a large number of students and staff members.
An official within the Catholic Diocese of Kotangora, speaking anonymously, stated that over 300 students were initially missing after the attack.
However, some pupils managed to return to the school following the incident.
“The attackers invaded the school as early as 2 a.m. Friday morning, shooting into the air while they operated.
“Some students escaped, even jumping over the school fence during the attack. By 6 a.m., some students who had taken cover in the bush began returning. It was a terrible incident,” the official said.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, informed reporters on Friday evening that 215 pupils and 12 teachers remain in the kidnappers’ custody.
“I have just returned to the village after visiting the school, where I met with parents to assure them that we are working with the government and security agencies to ensure our children are rescued and brought back safely,” Yohanna stated.
This latest mass abduction by terrorists has heightened tensions across the country.
Many private and public schools have abruptly halted their terminal examinations and closed over fears of further attacks.
Nigerians are increasingly avoiding important public events to avert potential attacks and kidnappings.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the shutdown of 41 Unity Colleges nationwide on Friday night.
Similarly, the governments of Plateau and Katsina have ordered the immediate closure of all schools within their states.
