DSS Arrests Five in Papiri School Kidnapping Case

The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested five individuals allegedly connected to the kidnapping of 303 pupils and 12 staff members from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, during an attack on November 21, 2025.

The arrests followed a month-long investigation and were part of a series of intelligence-led operations conducted in various locations. Among those arrested is Yusufu Muhammad, identified as a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The DSS reported recovering a significant cache of weapons during the operation, including 15 AK-103 rifles and 1,400 rounds of ammunition, believed to be supplied by an armed group operating in the region. The investigation is probing possible links to cross-border arms trafficking and criminal gangs responsible for kidnapping attacks across northern Nigeria.

The DSS has not yet released an official statement regarding the developments, but security sources indicated that the arrests aim to expose a wider network of arms suppliers aiding kidnapping syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria's borders.