The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has published an updated list of pupils and staff still being held by bandits following the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, in Niger State.
According to the diocese, the revised list—compiled on November 24—confirms that 265 individuals remain in captivity.
The breakdown reveals that the victims include five teachers, seven non-academic staff, 14 secondary school students, and 239 nursery and primary school pupils.
The large-scale abduction occurred on Friday, November 21, 2025, when armed bandits stormed the school community, whisking away hundreds.
Earlier on Sunday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) disclosed that 50 abductees managed to escape and have since reunited with their families.
CAN further explained that a more comprehensive headcount showed that 315 people were initially abducted—a figure higher than earlier estimates—after it was confirmed that some individuals previously believed to have escaped were still missing.
CAN Chairman, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, urged the public to remain calm and continue to pray, assuring that the Church is working closely with security agencies to secure the safe release of all victims.
He also debunked rumours that the school had been warned ahead of the attack, describing such claims as untrue.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency, ordering a full security lockdown around forests in Kwara State in response to recent kidnappings and terrorist activities.
The President also directed the Nigerian Air Force to intensify aerial surveillance across remote forest regions believed to be hideouts for the armed groups.
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