Kontagora, Niger State – More than a month after the abd¥ction of pupils and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has formally confirmed that all 230 victims have been rescued and safely reunited with their families.
In a statement on Thursday signed by Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Diocese explained that a detailed reconciliation and verification exercise was conducted to address public concerns and conflicting reports following the November 21 att@ck in Agwara Local Government Area. The verified figures include 204 pupils, 14 students, and 12 staff members.
The Diocese clarified that initial reports of 315 missing persons reflected the chaotic circumstances of the att@ck, as some pupils escaped independently or could not be immediately verified due to absent parents. By November 23, the number had been revised to 265, and after the reconciliation process, the final count of abd¥cted individuals stood at 230.
Bishop Yohanna praised the Nigerian government, Niger State authorities, and security agencies for their critical role in securing the release of the pupils and staff. The abd¥ction, which sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns about school safety, ended with the final batch of 130 victims being freed, marking a major breakthrough for security forces and relief for the affected families and community.
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