Early Morning Terror in Niger State
Niger State has become the latest flashpoint in Nigeria's escalating security crisis after unidentified gunmen stormed a Catholic secondary school in Papiri community during the early hours of Friday, November 21. The assailants reportedly abducted an unspecified number of students in the brazen attack that occurred between 3 am and 4 am.
Official Confirmation and Response
The incident has been confirmed by Mohammed Inuwa, senior legislative aide to Rt. Hon. Jafar Muhammad Ali (Shattiman Borgu), the Member representing Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency. In an exclusive statement to Legit.ng, Inuwa revealed that while the exact number of abducted students remains unconfirmed, local police authorities have been immediately notified about the developing situation.
The legislative aide's statement confirmed: "Yeah, it happened around 3 to 4 am. And the number of students abducted is not yet confirmed. The police command of the local government is informed."
Pattern of Educational Institution Attacks
This latest abduction follows a disturbing pattern of attacks targeting educational institutions across northern Nigeria. Just days earlier, on Monday, November 17, armed militants invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko district of Kebbi State, kidnapping 25 female students.
In that incident, which occurred between 4 am and 5 am, police personnel stationed at the school engaged the attackers, but the gunmen successfully breached the compound and escaped with the students.
The security situation appears to be deteriorating rapidly across multiple states. On Tuesday, November 18, bandits attacked a branch of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at Oke Isegun in Eruku, Kwara State, abducting an unconfirmed number of worshippers. The attack resulted in at least three fatalities in the Ekiti local government area of the north-central state.
National Security Crisis Deepens
The escalating violence has prompted significant concern at the highest levels of government. President Bola Tinubu has postponed planned diplomatic trips to South Africa and Angola originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, citing the urgent need to address the security situation.
According to presidential sources, the postponement will allow the President to receive comprehensive reports from security agencies including the police and Department of State Services (DSS) regarding the recent attacks in Kebbi and Kwara states.
Meanwhile, the terrorist group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the capture and killing of Brigade Commander M Uba, despite earlier Nigerian Army declarations that the officer was safe following an ambush along the Damboa-Biu axis in Borno State.
The continued attacks on soft targets, particularly educational and religious institutions, highlight the growing security challenges facing Nigeria's northern regions and raise serious questions about the protection of vulnerable communities.
