Armed men have attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, early Friday and kidnapped students and staff. The exact number abducted has not been confirmed, but Arise TV reports that 52 schoolchildren were taken.

Niger State government secretary Abubakar Usman said the attack happened despite intelligence warnings of increased threats. He criticised the school for reopening without notifying the state authorities, saying the decision exposed students and staff to danger.

Police confirmed the pre-dawn abductions and said military and security teams have been deployed to track the attackers.

The incident follows the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in neighbouring Kebbi State days earlier, where a staff member was killed.

No group has claimed responsibility, but Nigeria continues to face threats from Boko Haram and armed criminal gangs known as bandits.

The repeated school attacks highlight Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, leaving families waiting for updates on their missing children.

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest kidnapping, but Nigeria continues to face threats from multiple armed networks. These include Boko Haram responsible for the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl abduction and heavily armed criminal gangs commonly referred to as bandits. Over the past decade, these groups have increasingly targeted schools, seeing them as soft targets where children can be seized in large numbers to pressure families and governments into negotiations or ransom payments.

Security analysts say the pattern of attacks suggests that kidnapping syndicates are becoming more organised and bold, often operating across state borders and using dense forest areas as operational bases. The frequency of the abductions, they warn, reveals deepening weaknesses in intelligence coordination and rural security infrastructure.

Following the Papiri incident, authorities say search-and-rescue operations are underway, though they have not provided details for operational reasons. Military helicopters have, in past cases, been deployed to support aerial surveillance, while ground troops move across suspected routes used by abductors. For now, officials are urging the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information that could compromise ongoing efforts.

Community leaders in Niger State have appealed for swift and decisive government action, saying parents are increasingly hesitant to send their children to school. Some rural schools have already shut down temporarily due to continuous threats. Religious leaders and local chiefs have warned that the region risks a growing education crisis if the attacks continue, with girls especially at risk of dropping out permanently.

Education rights advocates are calling for urgent structural reforms to protect learning environments. Many rural schools lack basic fencing, trained security personnel, or early warning systems that could help alert authorities during threats. Organisations working in conflict-affected areas argue that without improved investment in school safety, the country will continue to witness disruptions that undermine children’s education and long-term development.

Human rights groups have also raised concerns about the trauma faced by families and surviving students. Parents of the abducted children have gathered near the school and at local police stations, hoping for updates from authorities. Many recall previous incidents where kidnapped children were held for weeks or months before release, often after complex negotiations. The uncertainty has created emotional strain among families already grappling with economic hardship and insecurity.

Local vigilante groups, which sometimes assist security forces, have expressed readiness to support rescue operations but have been cautioned to coordinate with the military to prevent clashes or missteps. These civilian groups play a significant role in rural protection due to limited police presence but often lack the training and resources to confront heavily armed kidnappers.

The federal government has yet to issue a formal statement on the Papiri abduction, though officials are expected to address the matter as pressure mounts. Over the years, the government has repeatedly pledged to improve security and end mass kidnappings, yet communities say these promises rarely translate into significant improvements on the ground.

The rising wave of abductions has contributed to broader concerns about national security, especially in northern regions where violent attacks, cattle rustling, and armed robberies are common. Analysts say the persistence of these incidents reflects deeper structural issues, including poverty, weak security funding, porous borders, and limited intelligence-sharing among agencies.

As families wait anxiously for news of their missing children, the Papiri attack once again exposes the vulnerability of students in areas plagued by insecurity. Parents, community leaders, education advocates, and security experts are united in their call for urgent action and long-term reforms.

For now, the priority remains the safe rescue of the kidnapped students and staff. Authorities insist that all available resources are being mobilised. Yet for many Nigerians, the recurring nature of these attacks raises painful questions about when or if the cycle of school kidnappings will finally end.