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The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has confirmed that 227 people, including teachers and students, were abducted from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State.
Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, made this known in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Dan Atori, in Minna.
The abductees include 215 pupils and students and 12 teachers.
He explained that some students escaped during the attack, and parents have begun collecting their children, adding that the school has currently been shut down.
According to him, CAN is working with the government and security agencies to secure the safe release of the abductees.
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The CAN chairman appealed for calm and prayers, assuring that efforts are underway to rescue those kidnapped.
The attack was carried out today, Friday, November 21, 2025, by suspected terrorists, and security operatives are actively involved in the rescue efforts.
The incident reportedly occurred between 2am and 3am, and the exact number of abductees remained unknown.
However, in a statement on Friday evening, Daniel Atori, the media aide to Bulus Yohanna, chairman of CAN in Niger state, confirmed that “215 pupils and students, including 12 teachers”, were abducted during the attack.
“I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and Security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely,” the statement reads.
“From our record, 215 pupils and students including 12 teachers were abducted by the terrorists.
“It is worthy to note that, during the terrorists attack, some students escaped and parents have started coming for pick up their children as the school has to be shutdown.
