Terrorists stormed St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours of Friday, abducting dozens of students and teachers, SaharaReporters has confirmed.

The attack occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., according to multiple community sources. Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara LGA, and Bello Gidi, media aide to the LGA Chairman, independently confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School,” Gidi said. “The information reaching us suggests over 100 students and teachers may have been taken. The school is co-educational, with both boys and girls among the abducted.”

However, exact figures remain unverified, with community sources reporting a lower number, describing the abduction as involving “more than a dozen” children. Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement, and Niger State Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun said he was still confirming details.

The assailants reportedly invaded the school while students were preparing for morning routines, opening sporadic gunfire. One school guard was injured during the attack. Residents described the operation as coordinated and terrifying, leaving a trail of fear in the community.

This latest abduction comes five days after a similar attack in Kebbi State, where terrorists stormed Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, abducting about 25 female students and killing at least one staff member.

The region has seen a spike in violent attacks, including a deadly raid in Rogun Village, Patigi LGA, Kwara State, late Sunday night, in which terrorists killed two security operatives at a police outpost.

The escalating wave of school kidnappings and bandit attacks continues to heighten concerns over security in northern Nigeria, particularly in rural communities with limited military presence.