Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the abduction of students and teachers from St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Atiku described the incident as yet another tragic reminder of Nigeria’s rapidly deteriorating security situation and called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency on insecurity.

Reacting on Friday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku wrote:
“Not again. This is truly heartbreaking.”
He added, “How many more lives must be shattered before decisive action is taken?”

According to him, “It is not too late for the government to finally declare a state of emergency on insecurity and confront this menace with the urgency it deserves.”

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Fresh Abductions Amid Rising Security Crises

SaharaReporters earlier reported that, just five days after gunmen attacked Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State and abducted about 25 female students, another group of terrorists invaded St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Niger State in the early hours of Friday.

Both students and teachers were taken, though the exact number remains unclear.

Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara Local Government, confirmed the attack, along with Bello Gidi, media aide to the Agwara LGA chairman.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, Gidi said:
“Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State.”

He added that early reports suggested that over 100 students and teachers may have been abducted, noting that the school is co-educational.

However, community eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the attackers took “more than a dozen” children, and local figures have not yet been independently verified.

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Earlier Kebbi Attack Still Fresh

The Niger abduction comes just days after terrorists raided the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, where they kidnapped about 25 girls and killed a staff member.

A school guard was also injured during the attack, which occurred around 5:52 a.m. as students prepared for morning activities. The assailants entered the compound firing sporadically, leaving panic and destruction in their wake.

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Security Personnel Also Targeted in Kwara

SaharaReporters also reported another violent incident earlier in the week: a deadly attack on Rogun Village in Kpada District, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Two security operatives were killed on Sunday night after terrorists—often referred to locally as bandits—stormed a police outpost and opened fire on officers. According to a security source, the gunmen engaged the police in a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes.