BREAKING: 88 more students declared missing after attack on Catholic school in Niger

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed that an additional 88 students have been declared missing following the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

This brings the total number of abducted students above 300, in addition to 12 teachers who were also taken by the terrorists.

Daily Trust earlier reported that armed men invaded the school in the early hours of Friday, whisking away students and staff into the bush. Many parents who rushed to the school to evacuate their children after the incident later discovered that their wards were nowhere to be found.

Providing an update on Saturday, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, explained that the new figures emerged after further verification and complaints from distressed parents.

He noted that the school has a total population of 629 students — 430 in the primary section and 199 in the secondary section.

Bishop Yohanna also debunked claims by the Niger State Government that the school received warnings or directives prior to the attack.

“We asked the Education Secretary if he received any circular. He said no. We also asked if he was verbally informed, and he said no. Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to and through what channel,” he stated through his media aide, Daniel Atori.