NIGER SCHOOL ABDUCTION: CATHOLIC DIOCESE RELEASES NAMES OF 265 PUPILS, STAFF STILL IN CAPTIVITY
Read Time:1 Minute, 29 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has released an updated list of pupils and staff still in captivity following the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, Niger State.
The diocese confirmed that, as of November 24, 265 people remain held by the bandits. The breakdown includes five teachers, seven non-academic staff, 14 secondary school students, and 239 nursery and primary pupils.
The victims were abducted on Friday, November 21, 2025, when armed bandits invaded the school community.
Earlier on Sunday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that 50 abducted persons escaped and reunited with their families. CAN said a detailed headcount revealed that 315 people were abducted, higher than earlier figures, as some individuals initially thought to have escaped were later confirmed missing.
A handout photo taken by Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of CAN’s Niger State chapter and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, on November 21, 2025, shows empty bunk beds and scattered belongings inside a student dormitory at St. Mary’s Catholic School. The photo was distributed on November 22, 2025.
The CAN Chairman, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, called for calm and encouraged continued prayers, noting that the Church is working closely with security agencies to secure the release of the victims. He also dismissed claims that the school received prior warnings about the attack, describing such reports as false.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency and ordered a full security cordon over forests in Kwara State following recent kidnappings and terrorist activities. The president also directed the Nigerian Air Force to intensify aerial surveillance in remote forested areas where the criminals are believed to be hiding.
Below is the full list of the St. Mary’s Catholic School students still in captivity:
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0