The Niger State Government has distanced itself from any responsibility in the abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic College, Papiri in Agwara Local Government Area, accusing the school of willfully disregarding explicit security directives.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 21, 2025, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said the state had already acted on credible security intelligence warning of terrorist movements across parts of Niger North. According to him, the government took proactive measures by ordering an immediate shutdown of all boarding schools within the high-risk zone to protect lives.
He noted that St. Mary’s Catholic College chose to ignore the order and reopened without clearance, a decision he described as reckless and directly responsible for the vulnerability that led to the attack.
Usman stressed that the government cannot be held liable for the consequences of a school authority “that placed profit and convenience above safety.”
His statement read partially:
“The Niger State Government received intelligence of heightened terrorist activities in parts of Niger North and acted promptly by suspending boarding activities and halting construction operations in the affected areas. It is therefore unacceptable that St. Mary’s School defied this clear directive, resumed academic activities without government approval, and exposed innocent pupils and teachers to preventable danger.”
“The Niger State Government received intelligence of heightened terrorist activities in parts of Niger North and acted promptly by suspending boarding activities and halting construction operations in the affected areas.
It is therefore unacceptable that St. Mary’s School defied this clear directive, resumed academic activities without government approval, and exposed innocent pupils and teachers to preventable danger.”
He added that the government is still awaiting verified figures of the abducted victims as security agencies continue their situation assessment.
The SSG further emphasized that the abduction could have been avoided if the school had adhered to the state’s security protocols. He insisted that the government had done everything within its mandate and would not accept attempts to shift responsibility away from those who ignored warnings.
Meanwhile, search-and-rescue operations have been activated, with the government assuring parents of ongoing efforts to safely recover the abducted victims. It urged school owners, mission schools, and community leaders to take security directives seriously to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
The attack comes days after a similar school abduction in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 female students were kidnapped and two staff members killed, further highlighting the escalating security risks facing rural schools.
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