DSS Nabs Five Over Niger Catholic School Attack, Including Boko Haram Suspect

Abuja, Nigeria – The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspects, including two foreign nationals from Niger Republic and a wanted Boko Haram terrorist, in connection with the November 2025 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri village, Niger State, where 315 people were abducted. The suspects, who security sources say served as arms couriers and suppliers to the gunmen responsible for the attack, were apprehended during a series of intelligence-led operations that also led to the recovery of a large cache of military-grade weapons. Among those recovered were 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, concealed inside a blue vehicle used by the suspects. The arrest marks a major breakthrough in ongoing investigations into one of the deadliest mass kidnappings in Nigeria’s recent history, which triggered nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the security of educational institutions in vulnerable communities.

The attack occurred on November 21, 2025, when dozens of heavily armed gunmen on motorcycles stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary boarding school in Papiri village, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, in the early hours of the morning. The attackers overwhelmed local security personnel, forced their way into student hostels and staff residences, and rounded up students and teachers at gunpoint. According to official figures, the gunmen abducted 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers. The victims ranged in age from nursery school children to teenagers, with some barely out of nursery classes. The attack was one of the largest mass abductions from an educational institution in Nigeria’s troubled history.

In the chaos that followed the attack, approximately 50 students managed to escape within the first 24 hours. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman for the Northern Region and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the proprietor of the school, confirmed that the pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday and had reunited with their parents. “We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents,” the bishop said in a statement. “This is to notify the public that, as of Sunday, November 23, 2025, we have received some good news as fifty pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents.” Following the escapes, the bishop confirmed that 265 people — 253 children and 12 teachers — remained in captivity. The diocese formally submitted the verified names of the missing teachers and children to Niger State Governor Umar Bago for state-level rescue coordination.

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Tragically, the abduction had devastating consequences beyond the immediate victims. Bishop Yohanna disclosed that shock from the incident claimed the lives of two parents who died of heart attacks. One parent reportedly lost three children to the abduction. Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, who had initially denied that any abduction took place, later officially acknowledged the incident during the inauguration of commissioners and elected local government chairmen. He requested a minute of silence for the two parents who died of shock. “Three weeks ago, we woke up with the terrifying news of the abduction of our children and teachers. Thank God we have rescued 100 and we hope that the remaining are rescued and reunited with their families soon,” the governor said.

After slightly over a month in captivity, on December 21, 2025, the Federal Government and Niger State officials confirmed the rescue and safe return of the remaining captives. Government officials stated that not a single pupil remained in the custody of the abductors, and all abducted students were successfully reunited with their families. The rescue operation involved joint security efforts and federal interventions. According to reports, 100 captives were rescued in early December, while the final batch of approximately 130 children and staff was freed on December 21, 2025.

According to the DSS and counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the five arrested suspects include a wanted Boko Haram terrorist and two Nigerien nationals suspected of supplying arms to the gunmen responsible for the attack. The first two suspects were intercepted along the Zaria-Kaduna Highway while reportedly on their way to receive a consignment of arms for their commanders. They were identified as Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Bature, who is on the wanted list of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram) terrorist organization, and Mubarak Ibrahim, his alleged accomplice. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Goni Ibrahim, described by security operatives as an international arms courier from the Diffa Region of Niger Republic. Ibrahim was arrested alongside Tukur Sani, who was identified as his accomplice. Days after the initial arrests, the DSS extended its dragnet to Yauri, Kebbi State, where operatives arrested the fifth suspect, Alhaji Adamu, popularly known as Gado Banufe. He is alleged to be a major supplier of arms to criminal elements operating within the Kebbi axis and surrounding regions.

Security sources disclosed that the weapons were concealed in a blue vehicle used by the suspects during their movement along the Zaria-Kaduna Highway. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a hidden compartment containing 15 AK-103 assault rifles, 15 loaded magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. The recovery of such a significant cache of military-grade weapons has raised fresh concerns among security experts regarding the scale of cross-border arms trafficking fueling banditry and school abductions across north-central and northwestern Nigeria. The active participation of foreign nationals from neighboring Niger Republic highlights the transnational nature of the threat.

Preliminary investigations, according to security sources, have established that all five suspects played key roles in supplying weapons to the gunmen who carried out the November 21, 2025 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri. The DSS stated that the suspects remain in custody and are providing useful information that could help dismantle the wider syndicate supplying arms to bandits across north-central and northwestern Nigeria. The Service has pledged to track down additional members of the syndicate, including those involved in procuring, transporting, and distributing weapons to criminal organizations.

In a statement issued on Monday, the DSS said the operation began with the interception of three suspects along the Zaria-Kaduna Highway and gradually uncovered a wider arms trafficking network. The Service reaffirmed its commitment to disrupting arms trafficking networks and strengthening collaboration with other security agencies to combat kidnapping, banditry, and related threats to national security. The DSS has urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security personnel as mop-up operations continue within the region’s forest reserves.

Key facts from the case include the following: the date of the attack was November 21, 2025; the location was St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri village, Agwara LGA, Niger State; 315 people were abducted including 303 students and 12 teachers; 50 students escaped within 24 hours; two parents died of shock following the abduction; the final rescue occurred on December 21, 2025; five suspects have been arrested including two Nigerien nationals and one Boko Haram member; and weapons recovered included 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines, and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. As of the time of filing this report, the DSS had not issued a detailed official statement beyond the initial confirmation of the arrests. However, multiple security sources have confirmed the development and the significant breakthrough in dismantling the arms trafficking network behind the Papiri school abduction.

DSS Nabs Five Over Niger Catholic School Attack, Including Boko Haram Suspect