St. Mary’s Catholic school abduction: Several students escape as bandits’ vehicle malfunctions

St. Mary’s Catholic school abduction: Several students escape as bandits’ vehicle malfunctions

An eyewitness has recounted how a number of students managed to escape after bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, abducting several pupils during a midnight raid in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.

The heavily armed attackers stormed the private Christian school around 2 a.m., firing gunshots to frighten students and deter security personnel. The incident occurred just four days after the Kebbi school abduction, where 24 female students were taken from a Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga — raising renewed concerns over rising school kidnappings in Nigeria.

A reliable source from the community told our correspondent, under anonymity, that the bandits arrived in large numbers riding motorcycles, shooting sporadically upon entering the premises.

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The eyewitness narrated:
“They operated for a few hours unhindered. At dawn, they snatched a vehicle and used it to convey some abducted students, while others were taken away on motorcycles.”

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the getaway vehicle broke down just a few meters from the school.

“Because the vehicle failed and they were trying to arrange another means of escape, some of the students used the opportunity to run,” the source revealed.

Several others also fled through the school fence in the confusion.

As of the time of filing this report, residents and authorities say the exact number of abducted students has not yet been confirmed.

The latest incident adds to a disturbing pattern of school abductions in northern Nigeria, despite ongoing security operations aimed at curbing the menace.

St. Mary’s Catholic school abduction: Several students escape as bandits’ vehicle malfunctions