Niger State School Abduction: Toll Climbs to 315 as Bishop Denies Prior Warnings

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The number of students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, has risen to 315, according to an updated tally released by church officials. The attack, carried out by suspected terrorists in the early hours of Friday, marks the latest in a troubling wave of school kidnappings plaguing Nigeria’s northern regions.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed the revised figure following a verification exercise and census conducted after initial reports.

“After we left the school at Papiri, we decided to make calls, do a verification exercise, and do further enquiries on those we had thought escaped successfully, only to discover that 88 more students were also captured after they tried to escape,” Yohanna stated.

The breakdown includes 303 students—both male and female—from the primary and secondary sections, along with 12 teachers (four females and eight males). Prior to the incident, the school had a total enrollment of 629 pupils and students, with 430 in primary and 199 in secondary.

Eyewitness accounts describe the assailants arriving in overwhelming force, riding on more than 60 motorcycles and supported by a van. They stormed the premises between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., shooting and seriously injuring the school’s gatekeeper before herding victims away. “In the middle of the night, our community was shaken by a deeply tragic event,” a local source said.

“Bandits invaded St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School… Students and teachers were forcefully taken away during the attack. This is an extremely distressing moment for families, the communities, and Niger State as a whole.”

Yohanna emphatically refuted claims circulating in some quarters that the school had received prior intelligence or warnings from government or security agencies about potential threats.

“That is not true, we did not receive any circular; it must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame,” he said. He noted that in 2022, the school had proactively shut down upon hearing rumors of security challenges, underscoring their responsiveness to credible alerts.

The bishop also clarified misconceptions about the school’s ownership and operations. “The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not by any individual,” he emphasized, dismissing reports that Reverend Sisters had traveled to Abuja in connection with the incident as “false allegations.”

He added that inquiries with the Education Secretary and the National Association of Private Schools confirmed no such circular was issued or received. “They claimed the school was shut down and reopened a few days ago, which is also not true. We are law-abiding.”

Amid the crisis, Yohanna called for calm and urged continued collaboration with authorities. “I want to call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful, and I also want to assure you that we will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government, and relevant authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees,” he said.

“May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect his people from all dangers.”

This abduction echoes a series of similar incidents targeting educational institutions in Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly preyed on vulnerable schools for ransom or leverage. Security experts attribute the trend to porous borders, underfunded policing, and socioeconomic instability in the region.

In a related development, the Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges across the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and parts of the South, citing “recent security challenges” and the need to avert potential breaches.

The directive, approved by Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, was conveyed in a circular dated November 21, 2025, instructing principals to enforce the shutdown without delay.

As investigations continue, parents and community members gathered at the school site expressed anguish and demanded swift action from security forces.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the Papiri attack, and efforts to reach Niger State government officials for comment were unsuccessful by press time.