Niger Catholic Diocese Drop List of 265 School Pikin And Staff Wey Dey Kidnapped

Four days after armed men abduct 303 pupils and staff from St Mary’s Private Catholic Schools, Papiri in Agwara LGA, Niger State, di Catholic Diocese of Kontagora don release updated list of 265 pupils, students and teachers still dey in captivity. Terrorists attack di school early morning of November 21, move through hostel between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., take hundreds of children. According to Bulus Yohanna, Niger CAN chairman and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, 50 pupils don escape and reunite with dia families, while others evaded kidnappers but never fit return to school. Di updated list show 239 nursery and primary pupils, 14 secondary school students and 12 teachers/staff still missing, with full names of all those kidnapped publicly released by di diocese.

Di attack don raise serious fear for insecurity around schools for North-central region. Federal government don close 47 unity colleges nationwide after threat assessments, while Niger, Kebbi, Kwara states don shut public and private schools in high-risk areas. Niger State Government direct all schools to close immediately, including mission, Islamic, and federal government colleges. Security agencies, soldiers and local hunters dey comb forests around Agwara for rescue operations. CAN and church officials dey work with security, community leaders and government to ensure safe return of all victims. Authorities never identify di group behind di attack, but similarities dey with previous mass kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi and Zamfara axis, as surveillance and patrols intensify to locate di children. Di attack don make people fear say school security dey drop for di North-central region.