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Tag: Niger

Catholic Releases Names of 265 St. Mary’s School Students and Teachers Still in Captivity

Wale busari01 mins

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora in Niger State has released the names of 265 students and teachers still in captivity following an attack on St. Mary’s School, Papiri. On November 21, armed men stormed the school, abducting 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers. According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, 50 students managed to escape on Sunday. On Monday, the diocese published a list of those still held: 239 students from nursery and primary schools, 14 secondary school students, and 12 teachers, totaling 265 individuals. Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, stated that security forces are working tirelessly to secure the safe release of the abducted students and staff. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has also called on the public to pray for the safe return of all those kidnapped.

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Fifty Children Escape From Niger School Abductors As CAN Confirms 315 Taken

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Fifty children who were among the hundreds abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, have successfully fled from their captors and returned to their families, according to a fresh update from the Christian Association of Nigeria. The children escaped in two waves between Friday and Saturday, prompting CAN officials to begin contacting parents directly to verify their return. The confirmation followed visits to several homes, where families reported that their children had shown up on their own after wandering away from the abductors. CAN explained that the primary section of the school has 430 pupils, including 377 boarders. After accounting for those who escaped and those who were never taken, authorities now say 236 pupils remain in captivity. They are being held alongside three children of staff members, 14 secondary school students, and 12 staff — a total of 253 people still missing. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who oversees the school, urged residents to remain calm and prayerful, noting that the situation is still unfolding. He assured the public that church leaders are working closely with security agencies, community heads and government officials to secure the release of every remaining hostage. The mass abduction happened on Friday when armed attackers overran the school. While early reports estimated 227 victims, a detailed verification carried out by CAN revealed that 315 people were actually taken — 303 students and 12 teachers. The corrected figure emerged after parents who initially believed their children had escaped later returned to report them missing. CAN’s checks showed that 88 of those students were captured while attempting to flee during the chaos of the attack.

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Niger State Orders Closure of All Schools After Papiri Kidnapping

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Niger State has ordered the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools following the kidnapping of students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. Governor Umaru Bago made the announcement on Saturday after a security meeting with heads of security agencies. A statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said the governor directed that all Missionary and Islamic schools, as well as Federal Government Colleges, remain closed until further notice. Tertiary institutions in Niger North Senatorial District and other high-risk areas in Niger East Senatorial District are also affected. Governor Bago called on security agencies, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and labour unions to focus on the rescue of the abducted pupils, assuring that the government is committed to protecting lives and property. He described the abduction as “sad and unfortunate” and said efforts are underway to secure the safe return of the students. The exact number of abducted pupils is still unknown, as the Department of State Services (DSS), police, and other security agencies conduct a headcount. The closure follows similar measures in Katsina and Plateau states in response to rising attacks on schools. The federal government has also shut all 47 Unity Colleges nationwide, citing recent security threats and the need to prevent further incidents.

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CAN Raises Niger Abduction Toll To 315 From 227

Wale busari04 mins

The Christian Association of Nigeria has revised the number of abducted pupils and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, raising the figure to 315 instead of the 227 earlier reported. According to CAN chairman Bulus Yohanna, the new total emerged after a detailed verification showed that dozens of children initially believed to have escaped were also taken. Parents later arrived at the school searching for their children, prompting a census that uncovered 88 additional missing pupils. The updated breakdown shows 303 students and 12 teachers are now unaccounted for. “After we left the school at Papiri, we made calls, conducted verification, and carried out further enquiries on those we thought escaped successfully, only to discover that 88 more students were also captured after they tried to escape. Parents we assumed had their children safe came asking for them, and that was when we realised they had also been abducted. This now makes it 303 students, including 12 teachers, bringing the total number of abducted persons to 315.” The abduction occurred in the early hours of Friday, between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., when armed men on motorcycles stormed the school and carried out the mass kidnapping. Governor Mohammed Bago’s administration blamed the incident on the school’s alleged refusal to comply with a government directive ordering schools to shut down. However, Yohanna dismissed the claim, describing it as an attempt to deflect responsibility. “I was greeted with what I term propaganda that the school was given a prior warning through a circular. That is not true. We did not receive any circular; it must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame. In the past, when we heard of rumours of a security challenge, we shut down immediately. Is it now, when there is a circular from the government, that we would refuse to obey?” Yohanna added that both the education secretary and the National Association of Private Schools confirmed they never received or sent out any notice instructing schools to close. “Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to, or through what channel they sent it. Claims that the school was shut down and reopened recently are also not true. We are law-abiding.”

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227 Students And Teachers Abducted From St. Mary’s Schools In Papiri, Niger State

Wale busari01 mins

Most Rev’d Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontogora Diocese, has confirmed that 227 students and teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri on Friday. According to Yohanna, the abducted group includes 215 students and 12 teachers. “I just returned from the village after visiting the school and speaking with parents. We are coordinating with the government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of our children,” he said. He noted that some students managed to escape during the attack, and parents have begun picking up their children as the school remains closed. The Niger State government and security agencies have not yet provided an official update on the exact number of those abducted.

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Atiku’s Media Aide Accuses Tinubu of Favoritism Towards Christians, Sparks Religious Backlash

Atiku Urges Government To Declare State Of Emergency On Insecurity Following Niger School Abduction

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity following the abduction of students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State. In a post on X, Atiku said: “Not again. This is truly heartbreaking. How many more lives must be shattered before decisive action is taken? It is not too late for the government to finally declare a state of emergency on insecurity and confront this menace with the urgency it deserves. – AA” Atiku stressed that decisive action is urgently needed to tackle the rising wave of kidnappings and violence. His statement comes after recent attacks in Kebbi, Kwara, and other states, underscoring the escalating threat to schools and communities across Nigeria.

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Niger Government Blames St. Mary’s School for Ignoring Security Directive Before Pupils’ Abduction

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The Niger State Government on Friday condemned the abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, noting that the school had reopened without government approval despite an earlier directive suspending boarding activities in the area. Although details of the attack are still emerging, Daily Trust reports that several students were taken during the midnight raid. The Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the incident by telephone, explaining that the attackers stormed the school between 2:00 am and 3:00 am. He said the exact number of abducted pupils and staff was yet to be determined as officials continue their assessment. In a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, the government revealed that it had earlier received credible intelligence pointing to heightened threats in parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. According to him, the state responded by suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of boarding schools within the affected zone. “This unfortunate incident comes despite prior intelligence report obtained by the government indicating an increased threat level in parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. “In response to these credible security alerts, the State Government had earlier issued a clear directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure. “Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,” Usman said. He added that the number of abducted pupils is still unconfirmed as security agencies continue their investigations.

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BREAKING: Bandits Invade Catholic School In Niger State, Abduct Students And Staff

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An unknown number of students and staff have been abducted from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State. Sources said the school was attacked during a night raid, with several students taken. A representative from one of the state’s Catholic churches confirmed the incident but said details were still being compiled. “Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later in the day,” the source said. The Niger State Police Command, through spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun, said further information would be provided later. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Department for Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, confirmed the attack, stating that the terrorists struck between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., and the exact number of abducted students and staff is still being verified. The incident follows a recent kidnapping in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were taken, raising concerns over escalating insecurity in northern schools. On Thursday, more than 50 schools in Kwara State were closed due to rising bandit activity. President Bola Tinubu recently cancelled trips to South Africa and Angola to focus on coordinating the federal government’s response to the worsening security situation.

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