Minna, Niger State – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has issuedily condemned the brazen attack carried out by armed gunmen on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools located in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of the state. The assault, which occurred in the dead of night, has left the Christian community in shock and heightened nationwide concerns over the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across northern Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement issued in the state capital, Minna, on Friday and personally signed by the state CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the association described the incident as “distressing, barbaric, and totally unacceptable in a civilized society.” Rev. Yohanna, who also serves as the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Vicariate, expressed profound anguish over the invasion that saw scores of pupils, students, teachers, and a security guard forcibly taken away by the assailants.
According to the details contained in the statement, the gunmen stormed the school premises between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. under the cover of darkness. In a chilling display of brutality, the attackers first shot and injured the school’s security guard who attempted to resist the intrusion. Having neutralized the only visible resistance, the assailants proceeded to round up their victims from the hostels and staff quarters before disappearing into the surrounding bushes with the abductees.
While the exact number of those kidnapped has not been officially disclosed by the authorities as investigations continue, sources close to the school indicated that dozens of children and several members of staff were among those taken. The development has plunged hundreds of families into anguish and uncertainty, with parents and guardians gathering in frantic clusters outside the school premises since dawn, desperately seeking information about the whereabouts and condition of their loved ones.
Bishop Yohanna, speaking on behalf of the entire Christian community in Niger State, lamented the psychological trauma already inflicted on the families of the victims and the wider ripple effect the incident would have on the morale of teachers and pupils in mission schools across the region. “Our hearts are heavy with grief,” he said. “No parent should ever have to endure the nightmare of not knowing whether their child is safe after sending them to school. This attack is not just an assault on a Catholic institution; it is an assault on the future of our children and on the fundamental right to education without fear.”
The CAN chairman further decried what he termed a “recurring pattern of impunity” where schools, places of worship, and communities are targeted without consequence. He drew attention to the fact that educational institutions, particularly those run by Christian missions in the North, have increasingly become soft targets for bandits and terrorist elements operating in the axis. “We are disturbed that despite repeated appeals and promises from those in authority, the safety of our schools remains gravely compromised,” he stated.
In a show of proactive engagement, Rev. Yohanna disclosed that CAN leadership in the state is already in close contact with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and relevant government officials to ensure a swift and coordinated response. “We are doing everything within our power to support the ongoing rescue efforts and to ensure that the victims are reunited with their families unharmed,” he assured.
He, however, appealed directly to the people of Papiri and surrounding communities to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of provocation, urging them not to take laws into their own hands but to cooperate fully with security operatives conducting search-and-rescue operations in the area. “Vigilante justice will only complicate the situation and endanger the lives of the captives further,” he cautioned.
Turning to the spiritual dimension that has often provided solace in moments of national distress, the CAN chairman made an impassioned plea for prayers. “We call on all Christians in Niger State and indeed across Nigeria, as well as people of goodwill from other faiths, to intensify prayers for the immediate and safe release of every single person abducted in this attack. Let us storm the heavens with supplications so that divine intervention will disgrace the perpetrators and bring our children and teachers back home,” he urged.
Bishop Yohanna rounded off the statement by reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Christian Association of Nigeria to continue advocating for enhanced protection of children, the fortification of school environments, and the deployment of sustainable security measures that would make such invasions impossible in the future. “We will not be intimidated into silence. The Church will continue to speak truth to power until the safety of every Nigerian child, irrespective of creed or ethnicity, is guaranteed,” he declared.
Concluding on a note of faith and hope, the prelate offered a solemn prayer: “May the Lord in His infinite mercy grant quick release to those abducted, console the heartbroken families, heal the wounded security guard, and continue to shield His people from every evil machination. May peace return to Papiri, to Agwara, to Niger State, and to our beloved country.”
As at the time of filing this report, security operatives have cordoned off the school premises and launched a massive manhunt for the abductors. The Niger State Government is yet to issue an official statement, but sources within the government indicate that the Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has been fully briefed and has directed all relevant agencies to spare no effort in securing the release of the victims.
The attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Schools is the latest in a string of school abductions that have plagued northern Nigeria in recent years, reminding the nation of the unresolved security challenges that continue to undermine the education sector and expose innocent children to unimaginable horrors.
