The gunmen who invaded the St Mary's School in the Agwara local government's Papiri community seized 215 pupils and students as well as 12 teachers, said Daniel Atori, a spokesperson to the Niger state chapter of CAN.
"I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely," he said in a statement.
The Niger State Police Command said the abductions took place in the early hours on Friday, and that military and security forces have since been deployed to the community.
Police described St Mary's as a secondary school, which in Nigeria would serve children between the ages of 12 and 17.
A satellite image shows that the school compound is attached to an adjoining primary school, with more than 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. It's located near a major road linking the towns of Yelwa and Mokwa.
Dauda Chekula, 62, said four of his grandchildren, ranging in age from seven to 10, were among the schoolchildren abducted.
"We don't know what is happening now, because we have not heard anything since this morning," he said.
"The children who were able to escape have scattered, some of them ran back to their houses and the only information we are getting is that the attackers are still moving with the remaining children into the bush."
The Niger state government said the abduction occurred, despite prior intelligence warning of heightened threats.
"Regrettably, St Mary's School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk," it read.
Umar Yunus, a Papiri resident, said there were only local security arrangements and no official police or government forces securing the school at the time of the attack.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora said a security staffer was "badly shot" during the attack.
The abductions took place days after gunmen on Monday attacked a high school and abducted 25 schoolgirls in the neighbouring Kebbi state, in Maga, around 170km from Papiri. One of the girls later escaped and is safe, the school's principal said.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu cancelled his trip to this weekend's Group of 20 summit in South Africa over the recent events. Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent the president at the summit, the presidency said on X.
"We will use every instrument of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the full weight of justice," Shettima said during a visit to Kebbi state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Niger and Kebbi state, but analysts and locals say gangs often target schools, travellers and remote villagers in kidnappings for ransom.
Authorities say the gunmen are mostly former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over strained resources.
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