CAN Confirms 303 Students, 12 Teachers Abducted From Niger Catholic School After Dawn Raid

Minna, Niger State– The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has confirmed that 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers — were abducted when armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community, Agwarra Local Government Area, in the early hours of Thursday, November 21.

The armed gang invaded the school around dawn, hauling students and teachers into the bush in what has now become one of the biggest mass abductions in recent years.

CAN initially announced that 227 people were taken — including 215 pupils and students alongside 12 teachers — but a new verification exercise has revealed a far higher figure.

In a fresh statement issued late Thursday, Bulus Yohanna, CAN chairman in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, said the revised number followed a “painstaking headcount” that exposed earlier assumptions as incorrect.

“After leaving the school, we made calls and enquiries on those we initially thought had escaped, only to discover that 88 more students were captured while trying to flee,” Yohanna said.

According to CAN, the school has 629 learners in total — 430 in its primary section and 199 in secondary school — making the scale of the attack particularly devastating for the community.

The bishop, through his spokesperson Daniel Atori, dismissed circulating reports claiming that the school was warned about impending threats prior to the assault. He described such claims as “propaganda designed to shift blame and mislead the public.”

“We did not receive any circular or warning. In 2022, when there were rumours of security challenges, we shut down immediately without waiting for any government directive,” he said.

He also refuted allegations that reverend sisters travelled to Abuja over the incident, challenging anyone making the claims to produce evidence.

Yohanna assured parents and concerned Nigerians that CAN is in active communication with security agencies and government authorities.

“We call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful as we continue to collaborate with all relevant authorities for a quick and safe return of our children and teachers.”