The number of pupils, students, and teachers kidnapped during the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State has risen to 315, according to updated figures released by authorities.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed that the new total includes 303 students and 12 staff members.
He explained that an additional 88 students were found to be missing after an earlier headcount mistakenly recorded them as having escaped during the attack. The school has a total population of 629 learners, 430 in the primary section and 199 in the secondary school.
Bishop Yohanna also dismissed circulating claims that the school had received warnings from government or security agencies before the incident.
He described such reports as false and an attempt to deflect responsibility, noting that the school has a history of responding promptly to credible threats, including shutting down operations in 2022 when risks were detected.
He added that consultations with the school’s Education Secretary and the National Association of Private Schools confirmed that no directive or circular ordering school closures was issued prior to the attack.
The updated information was released in a statement by the CAN Chairman’s media aide, Daniel Atori, on Saturday, November 22.
