The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has declared 88 more students missing from the attack that occurred at the St Mary Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger state on Friday, November 21.
In an update issued on Saturday, November 22, Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese said a total of 303 students are now missing.
He had earlier said 215 students could not be accounted for after the attack, adding that four female and eight male teachers were kidnapped during the raid.
He said the school had a population of 430 pupils in primary section and 199 secondary students.
The Bishop denied any prior warning from either the government or security agencies as claimed by the Secretary to State government.
“We have asked the Education Secretary if he received a circular he said no; or if he was asked to send any to us, he said no.
“We asked if he was verbally informed, he also said no. Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to, or through what channel did they send it.
We also asked the National Association of Private Schools, they did not get any such circular.
They claimed the school was shutdown and reopened few days ago, that is also not true, we are law abiding”, he said through his aide, Daniel Atori
Recall that the Niger state had blamed the school for the abduction, In a statement released, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, said following prior intelligence, the government ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the area but the Catholic school affected defied the warning and reopened.
