The Niger state government has officially broken its silence regarding the disturbing abduction of pupils from St. Mary's School located in Agwara Local Government Area. Authorities have confirmed that security agencies are actively working to rescue the kidnapped students.
Government Response to Security Threat
According to Abubakar Usman, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the state government had received intelligence reports indicating increased security threats in the Niger North senatorial district prior to the incident. In response to these warnings, the government had issued directives for precautionary measures.
"The government had earlier directed the suspension of all construction activities and the temporary closure of boarding schools within the senatorial district as a precautionary measure," Usman stated in an official communication.
Rescue Operations Underway
Security formations have immediately commenced investigation and rescue operations aimed at securing the safe return of the abducted pupils. The state government maintains that it is in close communication with all relevant security agencies and has promised to provide regular updates on the situation as developments unfold.
Authorities are currently working to confirm the exact number of students taken during the attack, while expressing "deep sadness" over the security breach at the educational institution.
Pattern of Educational Institution Attacks
This latest incident forms part of a worrying pattern of attacks on schools across northern Nigeria. Just days earlier, unknown gunmen abducted 25 girls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Kebbi State's Danko Wasagu Local Government Area.
That attack occurred between 4 am and 5 am on Monday, November 17, when armed men invaded the school premises firing shots into the air. Although police personnel stationed at the location engaged the attackers, the gunmen successfully entered the compound and escaped with the students.
The security situation has further deteriorated with additional incidents reported across the region:
- An unconfirmed number of worshippers were abducted when bandits attacked a Christ Apostolic Church branch at Oke Isegun in Eruku, Kwara state
- At least three people were killed during the Tuesday evening attack in Ekiti Local Government Area
- ISWAP has claimed responsibility for the killing of Brigade Commander M Uba despite earlier Army declarations of his safety
The security crisis has prompted President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned foreign trips to South Africa and Angola as he awaits comprehensive reports from police and DSS regarding the escalating security challenges.
