The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has revealed that a total of 227 students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri were kidnapped by terrorists.
Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman in the state made the disclosure in statement issued in Minna on Friday.
The CAN chairman said he had visited the school and met with parents of the victims.
Yohanna explained that 215 students and 12 teachers were abducted from the school during the attack.
He disclosed that some students escaped during the attack, prompting parents to return to the school to pick up their children before the school was shut down.
He said that CAN was working closely with government, security agencies and community leaders to ensure the safe return of all the abductees.
“I have just got back to the village tonight after visiting the school where I met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely,” he said.
He urged residents to remain calm, prayerful and optimism that the abductees would soon regain freedom.
“May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people from all dangers,” Yohanna prayed.
Thefrontrank reports that panic has spread across the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government Area in State following the terrorists attacked on St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in the early hours of Friday.
According to accounts shared with journalists, the attack occurred between 3.00a.m. and 4.00 a.m., when gunmen reportedly stormed the school, whisked students away and loaded them in a bus.
