The federal government has secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.
The pupils were among those taken when bandits raided the remote community on November 21, 2025.
The attackers, who rode into the area around 2 am on motorbikes, operated for nearly three hours, during which they invaded the school dormitories and whisked away 315 people 303 students and 12 teachers.
But in a statement issued after the news, Bishop Yohanna said nobody had contacted him or any of the staff members.
The Bishop was, however, very optimistic that the children would return safely and reunited with their parents.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Daniel Atori, Bishop Yohanna, who is also the Chairman of the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said the news could not be confirmed as nobody had been duly notified.
He said: “It will be a thing of joy if some of our children have been released.
“We have been praying and waiting for their return, if it is true then it is a cheering news.
“However, we are not officially aware and have not been duly notified.
“We hope and pray it’s true and will looking forward to when the remaining will be released.”
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