Papiri School Abduction: Victims rise to 315, CAN refutes Govt warning claim

The number of persons abducted during Friday’s attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State has risen to 315, according to verified figures released by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of CAN and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed the updated number after a detailed verification exercise and final headcount.

The new data shows that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken by the attackers.

Yohanna explained that the figure increased from the earlier reported 227 after it was discovered that several students thought to have escaped were later confirmed missing.

He said, “After we left Papiri, we made calls and verified again, only to find that 88 more students were actually captured while trying to escape.”

“Some parents also returned to say their children were missing, and that was when we took a full census and discovered they were abducted.”

According to him, the school had a total population of 629 pupils and students before the attack, 430 in primary school and 199 in secondary school.

The CAN Chairman also addressed widespread claims that the school ignored a security warning from the government before the attack.

He strongly denied this, describing the reports as attempts to shift blame.

“That is not true. We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought. In the past, around 2022, when we got hints of a security challenge, we shut down immediately. Is it now that we will refuse to obey?” he said.

Yohanna stressed that the school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not by any private individual, dismissing reports that Reverend Sisters travelled to Abuja despite security alerts.

He added that checks with the Education Secretary and the National Association of Private Schools revealed that no such circular was issued.

The cleric appealed for calm, assuring that CAN is working closely with security agencies, community leaders and government officials to ensure the safe return of all abductees.

The attack occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday when gunmen stormed the school on motorcycles—reported to be over 60—and a van. They shot the gatekeeper and forcefully took away students and teachers during the raid.

Residents described the incident as one of the most traumatic events in recent years, especially coming days after another group of students was kidnapped in Maga, Kebbi State.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide due to rising insecurity.

A circular from the Ministry of Education, approved by Minister Tunji Alausa, directed principals of the affected schools to shut down immediately to prevent further attacks.

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