KONTAGORA, Niger State – A sharp dispute has emerged between the Diocese of Kontagora and the Niger State government over whether St. Mary’s School in Papiri was warned of a security threat before Tuesday’s mass abduction of 315 students and staff.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that 303 students and 12 staff members—eight men and four women—were kidnapped from the school, which has a total student population of 629. An additional 88 students were reportedly captured while attempting to escape during the attack.
The Niger State government had earlier described the attack as “regrettable and avoidable,” stating the school had reopened without authorization despite security advisories. However, the Diocese has forcefully denied these claims.
Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of the Diocese of Kontagora directly challenged the government’s account. “No warning was ever sent to the school or local education authorities,” Bishop Yohanna stated. “If there was, show who received it and how it was delivered.”
The Bishop, who visited Papiri to reassure distressed parents, pointed to the school’s previous compliance with security directives as evidence of its responsible conduct. He confirmed that in 2022, the school was immediately closed following similar threats, demonstrating a pattern of adherence to official guidance.
The conflicting narratives have heightened tensions in Niger North (Zone C), where communities are demanding urgent action from authorities amid a worsening security crisis. The scale of this abduction—one of the largest in Nigeria’s recent history—has intensified scrutiny on the government’s handling of security intelligence and its communication with vulnerable institutions.
Security investigations into the attack are ongoing, according to state officials.
