One week after a massive kidnapping at St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bulus Yohanna, has confirmed that the abductors have yet to make any contact, leaving the families of 265 missing pupils and staff in a state of anguish.
“So far, we have not had any contact with them. As I’m speaking now, we’ve not had any call regarding the abductors,” Bishop Yohanna, who also chairs the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, stated during an interview with Channels Television on Friday.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of November 21, saw gunmen storm the school premises. The bishop provided a detailed timeline, explaining that the assailants first shot a security guard who refused to disclose the location of the convent sisters, before forcing their way into the students’ hostel.
“They shot into the air, and everyone was scared. So many of them tried to escape… At the end of the day, they were able to make their way with some of them,” Yohanna recounted.
Initial confusion over the number of victims was resolved after a thorough headcount and verification with parents. The diocese now confirms that 303 students and 12 teachers—a total of 315 individuals—were initially taken. Fortunately, 50 pupils managed to escape, leaving 265 still in captivity.
The bishop also directly addressed and rebutted claims from the Niger State Government that the school had ignored prior intelligence about a potential attack.
“This accusation came as a surprise,” Yohanna stated, recalling that the school had preemptively shut down for five months in 2021/2022 based on a mere rumor to reinforce security. “I see no reason why we should have that kind of instruction and not obey it.”
He confirmed that the school administration is cooperating fully with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, who are now in possession of the detailed list of the missing children.
With the school term officially closed by the state governor, the community now waits in traumatized silence, praying for the first sign of contact that could lead to the children’s safe return.
