After Verification, CAN Puts Number of Abducted Students, Teachers in Niger School Attack at 315

Special Report: After Verification, CAN Puts Number of Abducted Students, Teachers in Niger School Attack at 315

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has released a verified update on the tragic abduction that occurred at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State.

Following a thorough verification exercise and census, CAN confirmed that the total number of abducted victims has risen to 315, comprising 303 students and 12 teachers. This figure is significantly higher than the earlier reported 227 victims, as additional students who initially appeared to have escaped were later discovered to have been captured during the attack.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of CAN in Niger State, explained that the verification process was prompted by parents who reported missing children previously thought to have fled safely. The exercise revealed that 88 more students had been abducted after failed escape attempts, bringing the total to the newly confirmed figure.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has since ordered the closure of all schools across the state until after the New Year, with institutions in security-affected areas to remain shut indefinitely. The governor’s directive underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to safeguard students and teachers from further attacks.

CAN has strongly refuted allegations by the Niger State Government that the school reopened without official clearance, despite prior directives suspending boarding activities in the area.

Bishop Yohanna dismissed claims of prior government warnings as propaganda, insisting that neither the school nor the Catholic Diocese received any circular or verbal communication instructing closure. He emphasized that the Diocese has historically complied with security directives, citing past closures in response to rumors of threats.

The Bishop also clarified ownership of the school, stressing that it belongs to the Catholic Diocese and not to any individual, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise. He rejected claims that Reverend Sisters associated with the school had traveled to Abuja, labeling such reports as false and misleading.

Before the attack, the school had a total enrollment of 629 students, with 430 in primary and 199 in secondary levels. The abduction of nearly half the student population, along with teachers, represents one of the most devastating school-related kidnappings in recent Nigerian history.

CAN has assured parents and guardians that it is working closely with government and security agencies to secure the safe return of the abducted victims.

This incident highlights the persistent insecurity in northern Nigeria, where schools have increasingly become targets of mass abductions. It raises urgent questions about the adequacy of security measures, the accountability of government agencies, and the resilience of communities facing repeated trauma.