The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has raised the alarm that 303 students are now missing following Friday’s brutal attack on St. Mary Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to report, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna announced Saturday that 88 more students have been declared missing, adding to the 215 initially reported.
Twelve teachers, four women and eight men, were also abducted during the raid on November 21.
The school, which has 430 primary pupils and 199 secondary students, is now at the center of a bitter blame game between church authorities and the state government.
Bishop Yohanna has strongly rejected claims that the school ignored a government order to close boarding facilities in the area.
Speaking through his aide, Daniel Atori, the Bishop insists no such directive was ever received.
“We asked the Education Secretary if he received a circular, he said no. If he was asked to send any to us, he said no. If he was verbally informed, he also said no.
Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to and through what channel,” Bishop Yohanna said.
He also denied suggestions that the school had been closed and later reopened, maintaining that the institution has always followed proper regulations.
The Niger State Government has a different story.
Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, claimed authorities ordered all boarding schools in the area to shut down after receiving intelligence about potential attacks.
He accused the Catholic school of defying this directive, effectively blaming them for the tragedy.
The standoff between church and state authorities is deepening the controversy as desperate rescue efforts continue for the hundreds of missing students and staff.
