All Abducted Pupils, Workers Of Niger School Freed, Catholic Diocese Confirms

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has confirmed that all those abducted from St Mary Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, were reunited with their families, even as he said the diocese discovered that only 230 were actually abducted and rescued.

LEADERSHIP reported that the bishop of the diocese has maintained since the abduction that the total number of abducted pupils, students and staff was 315, with 50 of them escaping a few hours after kidnapping and 265 in captivity.

It was reported that the bandits released 100 on 8th December and 130 last Sunday, making up a total of 230 so far released by the bandits, leaving a difference of 35.

LEADERSHIP Friday observed that initially, the position of the diocese was at variance with that of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who said that the number of those in captivity was not up to 265 as claimed by the diocese after the escape of the 50 Abductees.

Bishop Yohanna, however, in a statement made available to Journalists in Minna yesterday, said that after verification, it was discovered that the 35 people who made up the initial figure given by the diocese might have escaped or not been abducted at all.

He said, “I hereby issue this statement to formally inform the general public of the outcome of the abduction, verification, and release process following the abduction incident involving the staff, pupils, and students of St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri”.

“This statement is intended to provide clarity, confirm verified facts, and address concerns that arose during the course of the incident, in the interest of transparency and public confidence”, he added.

According to him, “First, we confirm that a total of two hundred and thirty (230) children and staff members have been successfully rescued. This figure comprises twelve (12) staff members, fourteen (14) students, and two hundred and four (204) pupils, all of whom regained their freedom through the concerted efforts of the Nigerian Government and the security agencies”.

“We further confirm that all rescued children have been successfully reunited with their respective families. As of this moment, no individual has come forward to indicate that any child remains missing. Following the abduction, the following sequence of events was recorded,” he added.

He recalled that “On the morning of Friday, 21st November 2025, immediately after the incident, a headcount was conducted, and a total of 315 persons were initially unaccounted for. By Sunday, 23rd November 2025, it was confirmed that fifty (50) of those earlier listed as unaccounted for had escaped and been reunited with their parents, thereby reducing the number to two hundred and sixty-five (265) persons still unaccounted for”.

“Subsequently, a joint verification exercise was conducted by the State Government, security agencies, and the school authorities. During this exercise, it became evident that not all parents were present for verification; consequently, the school authority, in collaboration with the leadership of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), carried out a second and final verification exercise. This process established that an additional thirty-five (35) persons had either not been abducted or had escaped earlier,” he added.

The Bishop said, in summary, out of the initial 315 people reported as unaccounted for, a total of eighty-five (85) were confirmed to have either escaped or not been abducted, saying that “ Accordingly, the verified total number of persons actually abducted stands at 230”.

According to him, “We acknowledge that certain discrepancies arose during the initial headcount and verification process due to a combination of factors. These challenges necessitated a second verification exercise, which subsequently established that some discrepancies occurred because several pupils fled into the surrounding bushes during the incident and did not immediately return to the school premises for the initial headcount. In addition, not all parents were present for the verification exercise”.

He, however, stated that the discrepancies were not intended to mislead the public or cause unnecessary panic, but rather occurred as a result of genuine difficulties encountered in a rapidly evolving, highly sensitive, and emotionally charged situation.