An alarming mass abduction incident at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, initially reported to involve 227 individuals, has seen its confirmed victim count rise to 315. According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), this updated figure includes 303 students and 12 teachers, following a meticulous verification exercise and final census.

The Chairman of the Niger State chapter of CAN, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who also serves as the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and proprietor of the school, provided the detailed update. He explained that after initial assessments, further inquiries revealed that an additional 88 students, previously thought to have escaped, were actually captured after attempting to flee. This discovery, prompted by parents inquiring about their missing children, led to the revised total of 315 abductees. Before the incident, the school had a total enrollment of 629 pupils and students, with 430 in primary and 199 in secondary.

Amidst the distress, there has been some relief as 50 of the abducted pupils have successfully escaped from captivity and have since been reunited with their families. This brings the number of individuals still with the abductors to 265. The remaining victims include 236 primary pupils, 14 secondary school students, 3 children belonging to staff members, and 12 staff members.

The attack, carried out by suspected terrorists, occurred in the early hours of Friday, November 21, 2025. Armed men, reportedly arriving on over 60 motorcycles and supported by a van, forcefully entered the school premises. During the assault, the school’s security guard was shot and left critically injured.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna also strongly debunked allegations made by the Niger State Government, which claimed the school had reopened without government clearance despite a prior directive suspending boarding activities in the area, and that there were prior intelligence reports. He asserted that the school received no circular or verbal warnings from the government or security agencies regarding a shutdown. "That is not true, we did not receive any circular, it must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame," he stated, further clarifying that the school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not any individual. He also refuted claims that Reverend Sisters from the school had traveled to Abuja.

Internationally, Pope Leo XIV has expressed profound sorrow over the mass kidnapping and made a heartfelt plea for the swift and unconditional release of all those being held. Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has directed the closure of all schools across the state until after the New Year, with schools in security-affected areas to remain shut indefinitely. Security agencies are reportedly intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining victims, as the community is urged to remain calm and prayerful.