Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has ordered the immediate closure of all schools in the state after children were abducted from a Catholic school in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
The directive was announced during a press briefing on Saturday following an expanded security meeting in Minna. Bago described the incident as regrettable and preventable, emphasizing that the focus must now be on rescuing the kidnapped children rather than assigning blame.
“This incident could have been avoided, but now is not the time for a blame game. Our priority is to rescue these children and everyone affected,” he said, calling on security agencies, civil society organizations, religious leaders, and organized labor to unite in the rescue efforts.
The governor reassured residents of the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stating, “Nigeria is the only country we have, and Niger State is still our state. We must continue to safeguard the lives and property of our citizens.”
The school closure affects private, primary, and secondary schools, including religious schools, the Federal Government College in Minna, and the nursing schools in Bida and Kontagora. The suspension will remain in effect until further notice. Bago explained that the move also effectively serves as an early Christmas break for students amid ongoing security concerns.
He added that the exact number of children abducted had not yet been confirmed, as security agencies were conducting headcounts before issuing an official statement later in the day.
The incident follows an attack on Thursday at St Mary Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, where suspected gunmen abducted an unspecified number of students, further heightening security concerns across the state.
