The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed that 88 more students remain unaccounted for following the brutal attack on St. Mary Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.
Many parents rushed to the school to evacuate their children but could not locate them after the raid.
It would be recalled that terrorists stormed the school in the early hours of Friday, abducting both students and staff.
In an update on Saturday morning, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, said a total of 303 students are now missing.
He had previously reported 215 students unaccounted for, alongside the kidnapping of four female and eight male teachers during the attack.
The school has a population of 430 pupils in the primary section and 199 secondary students.
Addressing claims of prior warnings from government and security agencies, the Bishop refuted the allegations, saying no official notice was received.
“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.
