The diocese said the pupils were reunited with their families following a detailed reconciliation exercise.
More than a month after abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has formally brought closure to the incident, confirming that all affected pupils and staff have been rescued.
The diocese said the pupils were reunited with their families following a detailed reconciliation exercise.
In a statement on Thursday, and signed by the Bishop of Kontagora, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Diocese disclosed that a final verification confirmed that 230 pupils and staff members were abducted during the attack in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and have since regained their freedom.
The Diocese explained that the reconciliation process was necessary to address public concerns and conflicting figures that emerged in the immediate aftermath of the November 21 abduction, which occurred amid panic and confusion.
According to the statement, the verified abducted persons consisted of 12 staff members, 14 students, and 204 pupils.
The Bishop confirmed that all those affected had now been safely reunited with their families, stressing that no one remains missing.
The Diocese recalled that shortly after the incident, an initial headcount indicated that 315 individuals were unaccounted for.
However, as events unfolded and clarity improved, it became evident that not all those initially listed had been abducted.
By Sunday, November 23, the number had reduced to 265 after 50 individuals were confirmed to have either escaped during the attack or reunited with their parents independently.
“In summary, out of the initial 315 persons reported missing, 85 were confirmed to have either escaped or not been abducted, bringing the verified total number of abducted persons to 230,” the statement clarified.
The Bishop acknowledged that the inconsistencies in early figures were a reflection of the chaotic circumstances surrounding the incident, noting that several pupils ran into surrounding bushes to escape danger, while others could not be immediately verified due to the absence of their parents during the early stages of the headcount.
He emphasised that the discrepancies were neither deliberate nor misleading.
The Bishop emphasised that the discrepancies were not intended to mislead the public or cause panic but arose from the challenges associated with managing a rapidly evolving and emotionally charged situation.
With the reconciliation exercise concluded, the Diocese expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian government, the Niger State government, and security agencies for their interventions, which it described as instrumental in securing the release of the abducted pupils and staff.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that all the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State, have been released, with the final batch of 130 victims freed, bringing the total number of rescued pupils to 230, according to officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Officials of the NSA Office confirmed the development.
The release ends days of anxiety and anguish for families and the wider community, and represents a major breakthrough for security agencies involved in the rescue operation.
The pupils were kidnapped on November 21, 2025, after gunmen stormed the boarding school, an attack that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed fears over the safety of schools across Nigeria.