Pope Leo XIV has appealed for the immediate release of 315 people abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State.
Speaking on Sunday, the Pontiff expressed deep distress over the mass kidnapping, which included students, teachers, priests, and other members of the Catholic community.
“I received with profound sorrow the news of the abduction of priests, faithful, and schoolchildren. I make a heartfelt plea for the swift and unconditional release of all those being held,” Pope Leo XIV said.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Friday when armed men reportedly invaded the private Catholic school in a well-coordinated operation.
According to local sources, the assailants arrived in large numbers, riding on more than 60 motorcycles and supported by a van, before forcing their way into the premises.
During the assault, the school’s gatekeeper was shot and left critically injured.
A resident of Agwarra confirmed the incident, noting that the exact number of abducted students has yet to be verified.
“It happened between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.. The number of students taken is still unclear,” the source said.
Another community source added that several teachers were also seized during the raid, raising further concerns about the scale of the attack and the safety of the victims.