Nigeria has suffered another devastating blow as terrorists abducted students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, gave the update after a verification exercise and a final census was carried out.

A breakdown of newly released data showed that 303 students and 12 teachers were affected.

Yohanna said, “After we left the school at Papiri, we decided to make calls, do a verification exercise, and do further enquiries on those we had thought escaped successfully, only to discover that 88 more students were also captured after they tried to escape.

“Our attention was drawn to when some parents whose children we had thought escaped from the attack also came asking about their children. We became curious, and that was when we did a census and discovered that they were abducted

“This now makes it 303 students (male and female), including 12 teachers (4 females and 8 males), bringing the total number of abducted persons to 315.”

He said the total of pupils and students before the incident was 629, with primary having 430 and the secondary having 199 students.

He also addressed the widely reported notion that there were intelligent reports before the abduction.

“Also, it is very pertinent that we address the issue of prior warnings from either the government or security agencies, as peddled in some quarters.

Refutes Claims of Prior Warning from State Govt

Rev Yohanna debunked earlier claims by the statement that the school had gone contrary to state recommendation that the school be shut. “I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and Security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely but was gritted with what I term “propaganda” that the school was given a prior warning by the government 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, around 2022, when we heard of rumours of a security challenge, we did not hesitate; we shut down immediately. Is it when there is a circular from the government asking us to shut down that we will now not obey?”

According to him, the affected school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not any individual, as earlier reported.

“The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not by any individual. None of the Reverend Sisters travelled to Abuja as they alleged. Whoever made that misleading statement should know that it is a false allegation and should withdraw such or provide the proofs and evidence.

“We have asked the Education Secretary if he received a circular, he said no; or if he was asked to send any to us, he said no. We asked if he was verbally informed, and he also said no. Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to, or through what channel they sent it.

“We also asked the National Association of Private Schools, and they did not get any such circular. They claimed the school was shut down and reopened a few days ago, which is also not true. We are law-abiding.”

“It is worthy to note that, during the terrorists’ attack, some students escaped and parents have started coming to pick up their children as the school has to be shut down,” he added.

So far, only 11 students managed to escape and have reunited with their families.

Government Response

The Niger State Government confirmed the abduction but had claimed the school authorities ignored its security advisory on closing schools in vulnerable areas.

In response to escalating insecurity, Katsina and Plateau States ordered the immediate closure of schools on Friday. Kwara State had earlier shut schools in four local government areas.

Katsina’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Jibia, told DW Hausa that the closure was precautionary. Plateau’s Universal Basic Education Board said the shutdown was temporary but necessary to forestall threats.

“This decision underscores the urgent need for preventive action. The government is prioritising the well‑being of our learners,” the Board said.

National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who recently led Nigeria’s delegation to Washington, met U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.

The meeting followed President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.” Discussions focused on counterterrorism and alleged violence against Christians.

Hegseth stressed: “Nigeria must demonstrate commitment and take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians.” He pledged U.S. readiness to work with Nigeria to deter and degrade terrorist groups threatening both countries.

Calls for Fresh Defense Architecture

Security experts urged the federal government to abrogate Nigeria’s outdated 1959 Firearms Act, arguing that its restrictive provisions have failed to curb the proliferation of sophisticated weapons among criminal groups.

Civil Society Organisations condemned the renewed wave of school kidnappings, accusing the government of negligence, weak political will, and failing security leadership.

Governors of Northern States under the Northern States Governors’ Forum expressed deep distress. Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, described the incident as “a disturbing and unacceptable affront on the safety of children.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for actionable plans to stop the trend, while ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray urged global support to confront terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.

The Niger abduction comes just days after 25 girls were kidnapped from a school in Kebbi State. Analysts warn that repeated raids on schools’ risk eroding public confidence in education and deepening humanitarian crises across northern Nigeria.

Parents in Papiri have shut down St. Mary’s School indefinitely, while communities across the region brace for further attacks.

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