The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Bulus Yohanna, says authorities have still not established any contact with the armed men who abducted hundreds of pupils and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area.
“So far, we have not had any contact with them. As I’m speaking now, we’ve not had any call regarding the abductors,” Bishop Yohanna said in an interview with Channels Television on Friday, days after what has become one of the largest school kidnappings in Nigeria’s history.
The attack happened between 1am and 3am on November 21, when gunmen stormed the school, shot a security guard, and marched pupils, students, and teachers into the bush. Earlier counts suggested 215 pupils and 12 teachers were missing, but after verification by security agencies, community leaders, and church officials, the total climbed to 315—made up of 303 students and 12 teachers.
The diocese later confirmed that 50 pupils escaped and reunited with their families, leaving 265 still unaccounted for.
Bishop Yohanna also recounted how the attackers first headed for the convent where Catholic sisters reside.
“They were asking, ‘Where are the sisters living?’ The gateman said, ‘They work here, but they don’t live here.’ So they shot him and forced the gate open,” he said.
Unable to breach the barrier separating the convent from the school, the attackers redirected their assault toward the student hostels. “They shot into the air and everyone was scared. Many escaped into the bushes, but they went away with some of them,” he added.
The bishop strongly rejected claims by the Niger State Government that the school was warned about an impending attack but failed to comply with security directives.
He recalled that in 2021/2022, the school shut down for five months following unverified rumours of possible danger. “We reinforced the security system, built a security fence, and relocated students writing final exams. Since then, we have not had anything — no verbal warning, no written warning — until this incident happened,” he said.
Yohanna said the government’s suggestion that the school operated “without notifying or seeking clearance” was surprising. “If we had a warning, I see no reason why we should not obey it,” he insisted.
He confirmed that the Diocese is in constant communication with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kontagora and that the sisters have already submitted statements to police. Local police are also compiling detailed lists of abducted persons.
“Of course, they are traumatised and worried. We are praying and hoping that by the grace of God, their children will be released,” he said.
Reflecting on the wider security failure, the bishop referenced the Safe Schools Initiative — launched after the 2014 Chibok abduction — criticising its lack of real impact.
As of Friday, all schools across Niger State remain closed under government directive, while 265 children and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School remain in captivity with no communication yet from their abductors.