Fears over the safety of schoolchildren in northern Nigeria have deepened as armed men reportedly stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting students and staff in the early hours of Friday.
Sources indicate that as many as 52 pupils may have been taken, although authorities are still verifying the exact number.
The latest attack comes barely days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, fueling widespread concern among parents and education stakeholders.
Save the Children, in a statement on Friday, expressed deep concern over what it described as a rapidly escalating pattern of violence against education in the region.
“It is hard to comprehend what might be going through the minds of parents right now as they hope for their children’s safe return,” said Duncan Harvey, Save the Children’s Country Director in Nigeria. “No parent should endure this pain. No child should face this terror simply for wanting an education.”
Harvey warned that the back-to-back abductions are a sign that insecurity is spreading and require urgent and decisive action from the government.
The attack in Papiri is believed to be part of a broader regional trend, with armed groups operating across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara states through shared logistical routes within the Kuyambana–Kamuku forest axis. Beyond the two high-profile school abductions, dozens of other residents have also been kidnapped across the three states this month.
Harvey welcomed the quick deployment of police tactical teams, military units, and other security agencies to the affected area but urged authorities to intensify rescue efforts.
“We commend the swift deployment of security personnel, but we urge the government to do everything possible to ensure the safe return of all victims,” he said. “Commitments on paper are not enough; children need protection now.”
Nigeria is expected to join other countries next week at the Fifth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference will mark 10 years of global commitment to protecting education during armed conflict, with delegates set to adopt the Nairobi Action Plan—a renewed roadmap to safeguarding learning environments.
Harvey said Friday’s attack should serve as a wake-up call for stronger implementation of Nigeria’s commitments.
“Today’s tragedy must be a wake-up call,” he stressed. “Schools must remain safe havens for learning. No child should risk their life to learn.”
Save the Children called on the Federal Government and state authorities to take urgent steps, including securing the immediate release of abducted students, scaling up security in high-risk school zones, and strengthening the implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools.
The organisation also urged authorities to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, and weak governance.
Nigeria has recorded 70 school attacks between 2014 and 2022, during which 1,683 learners were abducted, 184 killed, and 25 school buildings destroyed. While the frequency of attacks had declined recently, this month’s abductions—two major incidents since the kidnapping of more than 200 pupils in Kuriga, Kaduna State, in March 2024—signal a worrying resurgence.
Harvey warned that without coordinated action, school attacks could become a dangerous norm.
“Urgent and coordinated action is needed now to prevent these attacks from becoming a routine,” he said. “The time to act is now. Schools must be safe places for learning.”
