The incident, which occurred in the Papiri neighborhood of Agwara Local Government Area, is “deeply saddening and avoidable,” according to the Niger State Government.
The government confirmed that the precise number of abducted pupils has not yet been determined in a statement signed by SSG Secretary Abubakar Usman because security agencies are still conducting assessments and gathering reliable data.
The government was informed in the statement that it had previously been informed of reliable information that indicated increased security threats in some of the Niger North Senatorial District.
READ MORE: Gunmen Abduct Students From Schools in Nigeria State
According to these reports, the State Government ordered the state government to halt all construction activities and temporarily close boarding schools in the affected areas as a preventative safety precaution.
St. Mary’s School allegedly reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or obtaining government approval, a practice that, according to the SSG, put students and staff at a high risk.
Since then, security forces have expanded search-and-rescue operations and begun a comprehensive investigation to ensure the return of the kidnapped pupils.
The Niger State Government says it keeps in touch with security personnel and will continue to update them as the situation develops.
“This unfortunate incident occurs despite the government’s prior intelligence report showing an increased threat level in some areas of the Niger North Senatorial District.
The State Government had earlier issued a clear directive directing the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the affected area in response to these credible security alerts.
Regrettably, St. Mary’s School resumed its academic activities without notifying or obtaining state government approval, exposing both students and staff to unfavorable risks. Since then, security services have begun a comprehensive investigation and search-and-rescue operations to ensure the pupils’ safe return, the statement said in part.
In order to protect public safety, the government made an appeal to school owners, community leaders, and other stakeholders in the state to strictly adhere to all security advisories.
It once more stated that the administration’s top priority is the protection of lives, especially those of children.
Citizens were urged to support security forces with credible information that might aid ongoing rescue efforts.
In an attack on St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, gunmen reportedly kidnapped an undisclosed number of students, according to Channels Television.
The school, which is alleged to be a private Catholic school in the Agwara Local Government Area of the state, was taken on Friday morning by the attackers.
The gunmen were reportedly accompanied by a van and riding on over 60 motorcycles.
Source: Channels TV
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