The armed men attacked a Catholic school and abducted students, said Abubakar Usman, who represents the Niger state government. He did not say how many were abducted.
According to the TV channel Arise, it involved 52 schoolchildren.
Late Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said that over 200 schoolchildren had been abducted. According to the AFP news agency, which quoted the organization, 227 students and teachers were abducted.
According to Can, there are 215 students and 12 teachers.
The incident occurred despite warnings of an increased threat, according to Abubakar Usman.
"Unfortunately, St. Mary's School reopened and resumed academic operations without notifying or seeking permission from the state government, exposing students and staff to avoidable risks," he said in a statement.
Early Monday, 25 schoolgirls were abducted by armed men in the neighboring state of Kebbi in northwestern Nigeria.
