Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, has revealed that the number of victims abducted by suspected terrorists from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri in Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger state, have risen to 315, including 12 members of staff.
Its Chairman, Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, disclosed this after a verification exercise after an audit of students and staff by the school authority on Saturday.
He conveyed this in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Dan Atori.
He said:“After we left the school, we decided to make calls, do verifications and further enquiries only to discover that those we thought escaped are with them, 88 students were re-captured after unsuccessful attempts to escape.
“Our attention was drawn to this fact when some parents whose children we thought escaped from the attack and gone home also came asking of their wards. We became curious and decide to take detailed accounts of all staff and students, and discovered that we did not capture the exact number of people that were abducted.
“I want to confirm to the whole world today Saturday 22nd November, 2025 a total of 303 pupils; male and female, 12 teachers: 4 females and 8 males, total number of staff and students abducted to 315”.
He further explained that the total of pupils and students is 629 with the primary section having 430 pupils while the Secondary section has 199 students.
He said:”It is also very pertinent we address the issue of prior warnings from either the state government or security agencies as being speculated in some quarters”, he said, adding that it is important that such distorted information be discontinued in the overall interest of all.
“I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with some 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 but was gritted with what I term as propaganda that the school was given prior warnings by the state government through a circular”.
“That is not true, we did not receive any circular, it must be an after thought and a way to shift blames. In the past, around 2022 when we heard of rumours of security challenge, we did not hesitate, we shutdown the school immediately. Is it when there is a circular from the government asking us to shutdown that we will now not obey?
The statement further clarified that, “Papiri Primary and Secondary school is owned by the Catholic Diocese, not by any individual. None of the Reverend Sisters travelled to Abuja as they alleged. Whoever gave out that misleading information should know that it is false allegation and should be ready to provide proofs or evidences.
“We have asked the Education Secretary if he received a circular he said no; or if he was asked to send any to us, he said no. We asked if he was verbally informed, he also said no. Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to, or through what channel did they send it.
“We also asked the National Association of Private Schools Proprietors, they did not get any such circular. They claimed the school was shutdown and reopened few days ago, that is also not true, we are law abiding”.