The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed that 227 people, including pupils and teachers, were abducted after armed bandits raided St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, in the early hours of Friday.
The attack reportedly took place between 2am and 3am, leaving uncertainty over the exact number of victims throughout the day. By Friday evening, Daniel Atori, media aide to CAN chairman Bulus Yohanna, released an official update stating that “215 pupils and students, including 12 teachers, were taken during the invasion.”
Atori also noted that Yohanna visited the community to meet with the families of the abducted children. “I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with 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,” he said.
He provided further clarification on the situation, saying: “From our record, 215 pupils and students including 12 teachers were abducted by the terrorists.”
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Some students reportedly escaped during the attack and were reunited with their families as the school was shut down for safety. “It is worthy to note that, during the terrorists’ attack, some students escaped and parents have started coming to pick up their children as the school has to be shutdown,” Atori added.
Yohanna appealed for calm, urging residents to remain prayerful while assuring them that efforts to secure the victims’ release are ongoing. “I want to call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful… we are actively collaborating with security operatives, community leaders and government authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees,” he said, concluding with a prayer: “May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect his people from all dangers.”
The Niger State government had earlier warned against reopening the affected school, advising the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the area due to rising insecurity. This mass abduction follows the recent kidnapping of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, intensifying fears over school safety in northern Nigeria.