The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has officially confirmed the safe rescue and family reunification of all children and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools in Papiri, Niger State. This announcement brings a definitive and long-awaited conclusion to a traumatic national incident that began in late November.
In a detailed statement released on Thursday, Rev. Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora and Proprietor of the school, provided crucial clarity on the final numbers and the complex verification process that followed the abduction. He confirmed that a total of 230 individuals—comprising 12 staff members, 14 secondary school students, and 204 primary school pupils—were verified to have been abducted and subsequently rescued through the coordinated efforts of the Federal Government, Niger State Government, and the nation’s security agencies.
Unpacking the Discrepancy: From Chaos to Clarity
Rev. Yohanna addressed the significant confusion that arose from initial reports, explaining the step-by-step verification that corrected the record. Immediately following the abduction on November 21st, the chaotic scene led to an initial headcount showing 315 persons unaccounted for.
However, the situation evolved rapidly:
- November 23: 50 of those listed as missing managed to escape their captors and returned to their parents, reducing the number to 265.
- Subsequent Verification: A joint exercise by the state, security agencies, and school authorities faced challenges, as not all parents were present.
- Final Tally: A second, meticulous verification conducted by the school with the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) established that an additional 35 persons had either not been abducted at all or had escaped earlier without being formally recorded.
“The discrepancies recorded were due to the chaotic nature of the incident,” Rev. Yohanna explained. “Some pupils fled into nearby bushes and did not immediately return for the first headcount, while some parents were unavoidably absent during the initial verification exercises.” He emphasized that these inconsistencies were not an attempt to mislead the public, but rather the inevitable result of managing a fast-evolving, high-stakes, and emotionally charged crisis.
A Nation’s Sigh of Relief
The statement culminated in the essential confirmation: all 230 rescued children and staff have now been reunited with their families, with no reports of any child remaining missing. This outcome is a testament to sustained pressure and operational response.
Rev. Yohanna expressed profound gratitude to the government and security agencies for their intervention. He also extended thanks to parents, the wider Christian community, the media, and the Nigerian public for their “prayers, patience, and support” throughout the ordeal. The statement concluded with a prayer for the “healing and restoration of all affected families,” acknowledging the deep psychological scars such events leave behind.
This incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing educational institutions in certain regions of Nigeria, while also highlighting the critical importance of precise communication and thorough verification in the aftermath of mass trauma events.
