Niger School Kidnapping: Updated Figures Confirm 315 Victims in Papiri Attack
The tragedy of the Niger school kidnapping in Papiri community has gotten even more serious with the updated figures revealing that 315 students and teachers were abducted during the violent Papiri attack.
As per the latest statement from the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the victims include 303 students and 12 teachers.
The updated figures resulted from the comprehensive verification exercise that included interviews with school officials, parents, and community leaders.
At the outset, it was reported that 227 people were kidnapped, but the latest headcount — which resulted from the disappearance of children that worried parents — found 88 more students who were also taken in the upheaval from Niger school kidnapping.
Besides being the Chairman of CAN in Niger State, Most Rev. Yohanna is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese. He said during the final census they found out that none of the children had escaped as was previously thought.
He explained:
“When we left St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, we started calling parents and making visits. It was at that time we found out that new cases of children abductions had happened. A few parents came back, calling for their children, and it dawned on us that they were victims too.”
According to the church representative, the educational institution accommodates 629 students in all, out of which 430 are in the primary level and 199 in the secondary level.
The magnitude of the Niger school kidnapping or other school children in Nigeria is still causing worries about the insecurity in Niger State and the escalating school safety crisis that is impeding the development of the rural communities.
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Cleric Denies Claims of Prior Security Warning
During discussion among the public, Rev. Yohanna rebuffed the allegations that the school disregarded a security circular issued by the government before the Papiri attack. According to him, the story was an effort to evade accountability and confuse people.
He also mentioned that the two organizations, namely the Catholic Diocese and the school, have not been informed in writing or by a representative that they should close their doors for a while due to an elevated danger.
“This is absolute propaganda. We have received no circular and no form of warning,” he said. “In 2022 when we heard rumors about insecurity, we closed down immediately. We do not wait for a circular before taking steps to protect our children.”
He went on to explain that St Mary’s Catholic School is a property of the Diocese, and it is not owned by any single person, hence, he called the rumours of Reverend Sisters going to Abuja before the incident “false and mischievous” and dismissed them outright.”
Yohanna stated that the conversation with the Education Secretary also included the point that a security directive had not been given. Those who took the lead in the NAPSP, which was the source of the quoted statement, supported the idea that it was not the case that a letter had been handed over to any Catholic institution in the region.
Calls for Calm as Rescue Efforts Continue
In the same breath, he also affirmed the Church’s readiness to work together by indicating that the rescue operations of the Niger school kidnapping are still going on and have the highest priority.
Despite the fact that terrorism in Niger is a serious impediment to education, the main source of bread, and the overall peace of the country, the people of Papiri can still smile as the security forces have been very active in the area lately.
Read More: Rising Kidnapping Cases in Northern Nigeria Spark National Security Concerns
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