The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed the release and reunification of all abducted pupils and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a press statement dated December 25, 2025, and signed by the Bishop of Kontagora, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Diocese said a total of 230 pupils and staff members were verified to have been abducted and subsequently rescued following a comprehensive reconciliation and verification exercise.
According to the statement, those abducted comprised 12 staff members, 14 students and 204 pupils. The Diocese confirmed that all the rescued children and staff have now been safely reunited with their families, with no one currently reported missing.
The Bishop explained that immediately after the abduction on Friday, November 21, 2025, an initial headcount showed that 315 persons were unaccounted for. By Sunday, November 23, however, it was confirmed that 50 persons had either escaped during the attack or reunited with their parents, reducing the number to 265.
He said further joint verification exercises involving the Niger State Government, security agencies and school authorities later uncovered additional discrepancies. A second and final verification conducted with the Parents-Teachers Association revealed that another 35 persons had either not been abducted or had escaped earlier.
“In summary, out of the initial 315 persons reported missing, 85 were confirmed to have either escaped or not been abducted, bringing the verified total number of abducted persons to 230,” the statement said.
The Diocese attributed the discrepancies in the initial figures to the chaotic nature of the incident, noting that some pupils fled into nearby bushes and did not immediately return, while some parents were not present during the early stages of verification.
The Bishop stressed that the inconsistencies were not intended to mislead the public or cause panic but were the result of the challenges of managing a rapidly evolving and emotionally charged situation.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora expressed deep appreciation to the Federal and Niger State Governments, security agencies and other stakeholders for their decisive intervention. It also thanked parents, guardians, the Christian community, the media and the general public for their prayers, patience and support throughout the ordeal.
The Diocese concluded by committing all affected families to God for healing, restoration and lasting peace, while expressing gratitude to everyone whose efforts contributed to the safe return of the pupils and staff.
