One of the most alarming mass kidnappings in the North-Central region in recent memory occurred when gunmen raided St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, more than a week ago. 265 teachers and students are still missing.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, November 28, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora, Bulus Yohanna, revealed the new headcount and confirmed that 253 students and 12 teachers are still classified as missing in the Kontagora Diocese’s records.
According to reports, the attack was the most recent in an increasing number of kidnappings involving schoolchildren in the North-Central, bringing back bitter memories of mass kidnappings that have plagued communities around the region for a long time.
After a verified headcount at the kidnapping location, 315 teachers and pupils were initially reported missing, according to Yohanna, who described how the diocese followed escapees following the incident.
“A total of 303 kids were absent, along with 12 teachers. “After taking the headcount, we added that number to make it 315 that cannot be accounted for,” the Bishop disclosed.
He clarified that once several hostages managed to flee and subsequently made contact with their families, the diocese decided to recalculate its total using parents’ verified phone confirmations.
He stated, “Those who managed to get away returned to their villages.”
“We were able to acquire 50 out of the 315 when we began calling people who had rejoined with their parents, including staff and teachers who were unaccounted for. We subtracted that amount, leaving us with 265 as of right now.
Yohanna affirmed that the diocese has formally sent Umar Bago, the governor of Niger State, the confirmed identities of the missing teachers and children for tracking and coordination of rescue efforts at the state level.
The Bishop also revealed that two parents have died as a result of the incident’s shock, which tragically adds to the suffering endured by families who are still waiting for information.
More than 300 children and employees from the Catholic-owned facilities were reportedly taken by the gunman; some of the victims were only out of nursery school.
CAN Requests Increased Security in Schools
Yohanna, who also serves as the chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Niger State chapter, urged the prompt deployment of security personnel to Niger State’s schools and community centers.
He requested that proactive school protection be increased by the federal government, especially for vulnerable rural towns with inadequate policing.
He emphasized, “forwarded names for action, not politics,” and urged immediate action.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu responded to the kidnapping crisis on Thursday by announcing a state-sponsored manhunt for the criminals and directing national security services to locate, interfere with, and free everyone who is still in captivity throughout the nation.
The president issued an order for swift rescue, disruption, and arrest and reiterated that terrorists would not be allowed to take over Nigerian land while he was in charge.
According to reports, 38 worshippers were taken from a church in Kebbi and Kwara States, while 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from another institution in the same week. Tinubu declared national security to be a national emergency priority as a result of the widespread, simultaneous attacks.
