The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State has dramatically increased the number of persons abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, from 227 to 315.
Bishop Bulus Yohanna, CAN Chairman and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, announced the revised tally in a fresh statement on Friday following what he described as a “thorough verification exercise and final census” conducted after the midnight terror attack.
The bishop revealed that the higher figure emerged after families and school authorities traced students initially believed to have escaped the gunmen who invaded the institution between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Friday, November 21.
“After leaving the school, we made calls and enquiries on those we initially thought had escaped, only to discover that 88 more students were captured after trying to flee,” Yohanna explained.
According to CAN, St. Mary’s School has a total population of 629 learners—430 in the primary section and 199 in the secondary section—meaning approximately half of the entire student body was abducted in the raid.
In the statement issued by Daniel Atori, spokesperson to Bishop Yohanna, CAN strongly refuted claims by the Niger State Government that the school ignored prior security warnings before reopening.
“We did not receive any circular or warning. In 2022, when there were rumours of security challenges, we shut down immediately without waiting for any government directive,” the bishop stated emphatically.
He characterized the circulating reports as “propaganda” aimed at deflecting responsibility from those mandated to provide security in the region.
Yohanna also dismissed allegations that reverend sisters from the school had traveled to Abuja in connection with the incident. “There is no truth in that report. Let those making these allegations provide evidence,” he challenged.
The bishop assured anxious parents and the wider public that CAN is collaborating closely with government and security agencies to secure the safe release of all 315 abductees, including pupils, students, and teachers.
“We call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful as we continue to collaborate with all relevant authorities for a quick and safe return of our children and teachers,” Yohanna appealed.
The massive abduction represents one of the largest school kidnappings in recent Nigerian history and has intensified pressure on the Tinubu administration to address the worsening security crisis across northern states.
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