The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed the rescue and reunion of all children and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, in Niger State. Rev. Bulus Yohanna, proprietor of the school, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying no child remains missing following coordinated rescue efforts by federal and state authorities and security agencies.
According to Yohanna, a total of 230 persons 12 staff members, 14 students and 204 pupils were verified to have been abducted and later rescued. He explained that an initial headcount after the November 21 abduction showed 315 persons unaccounted for, but subsequent escapes and verification exercises reduced the number.
He said 85 persons were later confirmed to have escaped earlier or not been abducted, attributing discrepancies to the chaotic nature of the incident. “A joint verification exercise by the state government, security agencies and school authorities later revealed that not all parents were present,” he said. Yohanna thanked authorities, parents, and the public for their support and prayers.