Gunmen Raid Catholic Boarding School Abduct Students, Staff in Niger State; U.S. lawmaker denounces abduction

Gunmen in the early hours of Friday attacked St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, seizing an unconfirmed number of pupils and staff and leaving the community in shock.

Survivors and relatives said the raiders arrived between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., forcing frightened children into vehicles before disappearing into nearby bushland.

Authorities have not yet released a final tally of those taken.

The Niger State government confirmed the strike occurred despite prior intelligence indicating an elevated threat level in parts of the northern senatorial district and has a launched an investigation.

In a statement, the state secretary expressed profound sadness at the incident and said security agencies initiated search-and-rescue operations immediately after the raid.

Local reports suggested dozens of pupils were missing, though numbers remain unverified as authorities continue the search.

This attack follows another mass abduction earlier in the week in neighboring Kebbi State, where gunmen kidnapped 25 schoolgirls and killed a school official. Analysts and community leaders note that such raids, increasingly common in northwest and central Nigeria, are often carried out by heavily armed criminal groups targeting schools for ransom and disruption.

The incidents have drawn international attention. U.S. Representative Riley Moore condemned the violence, called for prayers for the victims, and urged decisive action to protect students and educators.

His remarks reflect growing concern in Washington over the rising frequency of mass school attacks in Nigeria.

Religious and civic groups in Nigeria have also decried the raid. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora and the Christian Association of Nigeria called for the immediate and safe return of the captives and demanded that authorities strengthen protection for schools and other vulnerable locations.

State officials said they are coordinating with military and police units to pursue the abductors and review how prior intelligence warnings were handled.