Number of Abducted Niger Schoolchildren Rises to 303, Says CAN

The number of students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary School in Niger State has climbed to 303, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed.

Gunmen attacked the school in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, during the early hours of Friday, initially abducting 215 pupils and 12 teachers. However, a subsequent verification process has revealed a significantly higher number of victims.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, the chairman of the Niger State chapter of CAN, announced that the total number of victims is now 315, comprising 303 students and 12 teachers.

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The Bishop, speaking through his media aide Daniel Atori, explained that the updated figure emerged after a thorough census and follow-up inquiries.

“After leaving the school, we made calls and conducted a verification exercise to confirm the status of those we thought had escaped,” the statement read. “We discovered that 88 more students had been captured while attempting to flee.”

He added, “This came to light when parents, whose children we believed were safe, inquired about them. It prompted us to carry out a full census, which revealed the higher number.”

The breakdown of the victims includes 303 male and female students, along with 12 teachers—four female and eight male. The school has a total enrolment of 629 students.

Bishop Yohanna also refuted claims that the school had ignored a government directive to close due to security threats. “Contrary to rumours, no circular or warning was received from the government or security agencies,” he clarified. “This narrative appears to be an afterthought aimed at shifting blame.”

He stressed the school’s history of compliance with security advisories, noting, “In 2022, when security concerns arose, the school shut down immediately. We have always complied with security advisories, whether formal or informal.”

The Bishop also dismissed other false reports, stating, “The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese, not any individual. No Reverend Sisters travelled to Abuja, as alleged. Our Education Secretary confirmed he received no circulars, written or verbal, and the National Association of Private Schools also received none.”

Concluding with a call for prayer and calm, he assured the public of ongoing efforts to secure the victims’ release. “We will continue to collaborate actively with security operatives, community leaders, government, and relevant authorities to ensure the safe return of all abductees.”