The Niger state police command says police tactical teams and military components are ‘combing the forests’ with a view to rescuing the abducted students unhurt.
Gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, on Friday and abducted an unconfirmed number of students.
The command said the attack occurred around 2 am.
In a statement, the Police spokesperson in the state, Wasiu Abiodun said that tactical police teams, military units and other security agents have been deployed in the area.
‘In view of this, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Niger State Command, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman reiterated the Command’s commitment to rescue the students unhurt, and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support security operations to rescue the students’, the statement reads.
‘He further assured that this incident will be investigated and necessary action will be taken against the school management for continuing academic activities, contrary to the State government directive on closure of schools in the area due to security challenges’.
The Secretary to the Niger state government, Abubakar Usman said the attack took place despite earlier intelligence indicating heightened security threats in parts of Niger north.
Usman said the school proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the state government.
He said the state had issued an advisory suspending all construction activities and directing the temporary shutdown of boarding schools across the affected axis.
