Abd¥ction Figure in Niger Catholic School Att+ck Climbs to 315

The number of pupils, students, and teachers k+dn@pped during the att+ck on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State has increased to 315, following a fresh verification by authorities.

According to Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, the updated figure includes 303 students and 12 staff members.

He explained that an additional 88 students were confirmed abd¥cted after initially being thought to have escaped during the att+ck. The school has a total enrolment of 629 learners,430 in primary and 199 in secondary classes.

Bishop Yohanna also refuted circulating claims that the school received prior warnings from government or security agencies.He described such reports as false and an attempt to shift responsibility, adding that the school has always acted swiftly on credible security concerns in the past, including shutting operations in 2022 when threats surfaced.

He clarified that checks with the school’s Education Secretary and the National Association of Private Schools showed that no circular or directive was issued regarding school closure before the att+ck.

The update was issued in a statement by the CAN Chairman’s media aide, Daniel Atori, on Saturday, November 22.