BREAKING: Number of students kidnapped from private Christian school in Niger rises to 315

Three hundred and three students and fiften teachers were abducted by terrorists from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The update was provided by Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, following a verification exercise and a final census.

According to a statement issued by Bishop Yohanna’s media aide, Daniel Atori, the figure rose after further checks revealed that additional students had been captured while trying to escape.

“After leaving the school in Papiri, we carried out verification calls and inquiries regarding students we initially thought had escaped, only to discover that 88 more students had been abducted,” the statement said.

“At the same time, some parents whose children we believed had escaped came asking about them, prompting further checks. This brought the total number of abductees to 303 students, comprising both boys and girls, along with 12 teachers—four females and eight males—making a total of 315 abducted persons. The school currently has 629 pupils in total, with 430 in primary and 199 in secondary school.”

Bishop Yohanna also addressed claims that the school had received prior warning from the government or security agencies.

“I have just returned to the village after visiting the school and meeting with parents to assure them that we are working closely with the government and security agencies for the safe return of our children,” he said.

“Contrary to claims circulating in some quarters that the school was warned via a government circular, no such warning was received. That is false and appears to be an attempt to shift blame. In the past, whenever there were rumors of security threats, we took immediate action to protect the children. We do not need a government circular to obey the law or safeguard our students.”

The statement clarified that the school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not by any individual. It also dismissed allegations that any Reverend Sisters had traveled to Abuja in connection with the matter.

“We asked the Education Secretary if he had received any circular, and he said no. He was also not verbally informed. Likewise, the National Association of Private Schools confirmed that no such circular was issued. Claims that the school had shut down and reopened in recent days are also untrue, as we are law-abiding and transparent,” the statement added.

Bishop Yohanna called on the public to remain calm and prayerful, assuring that CAN will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government officials, and relevant authorities to ensure the safe and swift return of all abducted students and teachers.