Christians in Nigeria have confirmed that 315 students and faculty members have been kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra LGA, Niger State.
According to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the number of abducted students rose from 227 to 288 after additional checks, phone calls, and a final census revealed the additional students’ whereabouts.
Three hundred thirty-three pupils and twelve educators make up the revised tally.
Prior to the attack, Bishop Yohanna said, the school’s elementary and secondary divisions had a total of 629 students.
He denied that the school had been alerted before to the attack, stating that neither the government nor security agencies had sent out any circular.
The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese, he stressed, and he asked those who were circulating rumors to either retract them or provide evidence.
As security activities persist, he pleaded for calm and urged the population to be prayerful.
As early as Friday morning, armed individuals rode up on around sixty motorcycles and a vehicle to storm the school, kidnapping both pupils and staff.
The bishop asked God to bless the victims and keep them safe as they returned home.
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