Fifty of the more than 300 children abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State, have escaped from their captors. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, announced the development in a statement on Sunday, noting that the children escaped between Friday and Saturday.
“We have received some good news as fifty pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents,” said Daniel Atori, media aide to the CAN Chairman in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese. He explained that the children returned directly to their homes after escaping, which CAN later confirmed through calls and visits to parents.
Providing further details, the statement clarified the school’s population: “In the primary section, out of 430 pupils, 377 are boarders while 53 are day students. Aside from the 50 pupils who escaped and returned home, 141 were not taken. At present, 236 pupils, three staff children, 14 secondary students—making a total of 253 children—and 12 staff members are with the abductors.”
Bishop Yohanna, who also owns the school on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, appealed for calm and prayers for the safe rescue of those still in captivity. “While we welcome the escape of these 50 children with relief, I urge everyone to continue praying for the safe return of the remaining victims. We are collaborating actively with security agencies, community leaders, government officials, and relevant authorities for the swift rescue of all abductees. May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people.”
More than 300 students were seized when terrorists invaded the school on Friday. Although early reports indicated 227 people had been taken, CAN’s verification exercise and final census put the total at 315—comprising 303 students and 12 teachers.
Yohanna explained that additional checks revealed that 88 students initially believed to have escaped had also been captured while fleeing. “After leaving the school at Papiri, we began calling parents and conducting further enquiries. Some parents we assumed had their children safe later returned to ask about them. That was when we became concerned and carried out a full census, discovering they, too, had been abducted.”
‘No prior warning’
The Niger CAN Chairman also addressed widespread claims that the school had received intelligence warnings before the attack. “It is important to clarify that we did not receive any prior warning from the government or security agencies,” he said. Yohanna added that he had just returned from the village after meeting with parents to reassure them of ongoing efforts toward the children’s safe return, only to encounter what he described as “propaganda” alleging that the school had been warned through a government circular.
“That is not true. We received no such circular. In the past, when we heard rumours of security challenges—as in 2022—we shut the school immediately. Why would we ignore a government order now? Whoever made that allegation should withdraw it or provide evidence.”
He further clarified that the school is owned by the Catholic Diocese, not by any individual, and dismissed reports that Reverend Sisters had travelled to Abuja prior to the attack. “The Education Secretary confirmed that he neither received nor transmitted any circular. We also asked whether he was verbally informed, and he said no. The National Association of Private Schools also confirmed receiving no such directive. Claims that the school was shut down and recently reopened are equally false. We are law-abiding.”
