Papiri

Papiri is a location in Niger State, Nigeria, notable for being the site of St. Mary's School. The area gained international attention following a mass abduction of over 200 students and staff from the Catholic boarding school in November. This event forced the closure of schools in Niger State as part of emergency security measures. The abductions were reportedly carried out by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, although this has not been officially confirmed. News reports indicate the Nigerian government secured the release of the abducted children in batches, with the final group released around Christmas. While the government denies paying a ransom, the incident highlights the ongoing issue of insecurity and the vulnerability of schools to kidnapping in Nigeria. Schools in Niger state are scheduled to reopen in safe areas in January following security assessments. The incident underscores the persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria and the fear instilled in local communities by kidnap gangs.