Save the Children has expressed deep concern over a fresh attack on a school in northern Nigeria, marking the second abduction in just one week. Early reports indicate that armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, in the early hours of Friday, abducting students and staff. The exact number of victims is still being confirmed, though initial reports suggest around 52 pupils may have been taken.
This latest attack follows the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, only days earlier. Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria, said, “It is difficult to comprehend the fear and anxiety families are facing. No child should be targeted for pursuing an education, and no parent should endure such terror.”
The organization stressed that these incidents reflect a wider regional insecurity crisis. Armed groups operating across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara States often use the Kuyambana–Kamuku forest corridor to carry out coordinated attacks. In addition to these high-profile school abductions, dozens of other people have been abducted in the region this month alone.
Save the Children commended the swift deployment of police tactical units, military personnel, and other security agencies to rescue the abducted students but urged the government to take further steps to ensure their safe return. “We call on authorities to scale up security measures around schools, implement early-warning systems, and strengthen rapid response mechanisms to protect children,” Harvey added.
The NGO also called for adherence to the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools, as well as the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, to make educational institutions safe havens for learning. In the long term, Save the Children emphasized the importance of addressing root causes of insecurity, including poverty, youth unemployment, and weak governance structures.
Between 2014 and 2022, Nigeria recorded 70 attacks on schools, resulting in 1,683 learners abducted, 184 deaths, and 25 schools destroyed. While incidents had declined in recent years, the two major abductions this month highlight a worrying resurgence. The organization warned that urgent, coordinated action is needed to prevent these attacks from becoming a norm.
Harvey concluded, “The time to act is now. Schools must be safe places for learning. No child should risk their life to go to school.”
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