Terror Storm: FG, States Shut Schools as 215 Niger Pupils Abducted
Nigeria has plunged into another wave of shock and outrage after terrorists abducted 215 pupils from Lungu Community Primary and Junior Secondary School in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, prompting the Federal Government and several Northern States to shut down vulnerable schools immediately.
The attackers, estimated at over 70, according to security sources, stormed the community at about 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Arriving on more than 40 motorcycles, each carrying two fully armed men, the terrorists fired sporadically to scare residents before rounding up pupils and marching them into the forest.
Local vigilantes who attempted to resist were overpowered, leaving at least three injured. Teachers said many of the younger pupils were “dragged away while crying,” as the abductors forced the children into waiting motorcycles and on foot paths toward the Tegina-Kaduna forest corridor, known for harbouring armed groups.
Parents and villagers chased after the attackers but had to retreat as gunmen fired warning shots. When Global Mirror News visited the Community Thursday morning, dozens of families were gathered in groups, weeping and calling out the names of their missing children.
A resident, Malam Haruna Isyaku, said, “More than 200 children were taken. The bandits moved like they already studied the Area. They knew where to enter and how to escape before soldiers arrived.”
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has directed the closure of schools in high-risk LGAs across Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Katsina State. Education Commissioner for Niger State, Hadiza Mohammed, said the shutdown is a “preventive step to avoid more tragedies while a full security audit is conducted.”
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, described the incident as “an unforgivable assault on innocent children,” adding that combined forces of the Military, Police, and lyocal intelligence units have launched search-and-rescue operations. He confirmed that the abductors have split into multiple groups to evade surveillance.
Security experts say the method used in the attack mirrors recent operations by splinter cells of bandit groups linked to the Birnin Gwari–Tegina axis, raising concerns of an expanding network.
Civil society organisations renewed calls for the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, while the National Parents’ Union has demanded immediate action and transparency on rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicate that the abductors may have made initial contact with community leaders, though authorities have not publicly acknowledged any negotiations.
As the Nation waits anxiously, security teams have blocked forest escape routes, intensified aerial reconnaissance, and deployed more personnel, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said to be receiving hourly updates on the crisis.
Global Mirror News will continue to track the situation as it unfolds.
