The variety of college students and lecturers kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Major and Secondary Colleges in Papiri, Agwarra Native Authorities Space of Niger State has risen to 315, up from the preliminary depend of 227.
The up to date determine was confirmed by the Chairman of the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who additionally serves because the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, following a verification train and closing census.
The breakdown exhibits that 303 college students and 12 lecturers have been kidnapped.
“After leaving the college at Papiri, we carried out calls, verification workout routines, and additional inquiries on these we thought had escaped efficiently, solely to find that 88 extra college students have been kidnapped whereas attempting to flee,” Yohanna stated.
He added, “Some mother and father, whose kids we believed had escaped, got here asking for them. That prompted a census, which confirmed the extra abductions. This brings the overall to 303 college students, together with 12 lecturers, 4 females and eight males, making 315 kidnapped individuals in all.”
The bishop famous that the college had a complete of 629 pupils and college students earlier than the assault, with 430 within the major part and 199 within the secondary part.
Addressing claims that the college acquired prior warnings in regards to the assault, Yohanna dismissed them as false. “That isn’t true. We didn’t obtain any round from the federal government or safety companies. Such claims are afterthoughts aimed toward shifting blame,” he stated.
He clarified that the college is owned by the Catholic Diocese, not any particular person, and known as on anybody spreading deceptive info to retract it or present proof.
“We’ve got confirmed with the Training Secretary and the Nationwide Affiliation of Personal Colleges, and neither acquired any round. We’re law-abiding,” Yohanna added.
He appealed for calm, urging the general public to stay prayerful. “Could the Lord grant the short launch of these kidnapped and proceed to guard His folks from all risks,” he stated.
The assault occurred early on Friday when gunmen, reportedly travelling on over 60 bikes accompanied by a van, stormed the non-public Catholic college.