The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has pushed back firmly against claims by the Niger State Government that St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, Agwara Local Council, ignored an official advisory to shut down ahead of last week’s abduction of pupils, students and staff.
In a detailed statement signed by the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Father Jatau Luka Joseph, the Church described the government’s assertion as an “afterthought” and an attempt to shift responsibility over a tragedy that has shaken the quiet community.
The diocese insisted that no circular, advisory or warning letter was issued to the school prior to the 21 November midnight raid, adding that the school had consistently prioritised security and worked closely with relevant agencies.
Rev. Joseph noted that contrary to social media claims, all the Reverend Sisters were on the school grounds when the armed men struck, including the Principal, Rev. Sister Felicia Gyam Ola, who debunked rumours that she had travelled to Abuja at the time.
Speaking separately, Sister Felicia reaffirmed that no official communication ever came from the Ministry of Education. “Nobody reached out to the school prior to the attack,” she said, stressing that the institution would never trivialise security warnings.
The diocese disclosed that the bandits invaded the compound between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., moving unhindered through dormitories before forcing victims into waiting vehicles. A total of 315 people — 303 pupils and 12 teachers — remain unaccounted for.
Survivors, according to the statement, recounted how the assailants operated “aggressively and without interruption” for nearly three hours.
Rev. Joseph explained that the school had a history of proactively responding to threats. “In May 2021, when we heard rumours of security threats, we did not hesitate to act; we closed the school for about five months… We later employed special local security operatives from Kwara State to safeguard our pupils, students and staff,” he said.
He stressed that these measures were initiated independently by the school, demonstrating its commitment to protecting its community.
The diocese urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims, appealing for calm and prayerful support to ensure the safe return of the abducted pupils and staff. It added that it is cooperating fully with ongoing investigations and will provide updates as new information emerges.
