The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has released the full names of 265 pupils, students and staff of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Schools, Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, who remain in captivity after the mass abduction of 21 November.
Gunmen attacked the school between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., sweeping through the hostels and carrying away hundreds of children. Initial figures from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) put the number taken at 303 pupils and 12 staff, though CAN later confirmed that 50 pupils escaped after officials contacted parents directly.
An updated diocese report shows 239 nursery and primary pupils, 14 secondary school students, and 12 staff still missing.
The staff held include Bitrus Yohanna, Cyril Bagudu, Mercy Yohanna, Justina Yakubu, Terry Francis, Emmanuel Ibrahim, Godwin James, Lydia Andrew, Hannatu Bulus, Yohanna Daniel Dogonyaro, Agnes Joseph and Anna Terry.
The secondary students still captive are Amos Kiloybas, Onah Benedict, Bulus Ezra, Anthony Linus, Dauda Zacharia, Bulus Gustave, Ejeh Mathew, Iliya John, Joshua Philip, Samaila Habila, Simon Christopher, Yohanna Cephas, Christopher Justice and Samuel Michael.
The diocese also named all nursery and primary school pupils yet to return. They include Natherniel Andrew, Shalom Terry, Ajikovi Andrew, Zacharia Sabastine, John Lois, Yohanna Veronica, Emmanuel Ibrahim, Ayuba Linus, Bulus Christopher, Ibrahim Micah, Joshua Dogara, Marcus Stephen, Samuel Peter, Simon Wisdom, Yahaya Vincent, Yakubu Yahaya, Yohanna Micah, Ibrahim Agnes, Musa Celestina, Timothy Rejoice, Serah James, Tanko Bitrus, Christopher Yunusa, Julius Dimas, Godwin Sunday, Joseph Samuel, Silas Timothy, Habila Bulus, Anthony Godwin, Alheri Sunday, Lovina Samuel, Naomi Zacharia, Goodness Elisha, Habiba Sunday, Redeemer Iliya, Joy Ibrahim, Rejoice Luka, Sarah Luka, Samson Luka, Amos Gabriel, Ayuba Josiah, Bitrus Linus, Bulus Ayuba, Hanna Daniel, Ezekiel Shedrack, Peter Julius, Yakubu Joseph, Philip Iliya, Juliet Alex, Patricia Ayuba, Ishaya Libiya, Simon Iliya, Theresa Ibrahim, Veronica Michael, Patience Musa, Victoria Sunday, Gloria Yohanna, Veronica Iliya, Pius Yakubu, Lois Samaila, Nagode Augustine, Abednego Ishaya, Ayuba Blessed, Emmanuel Cleopas, Emmanuel Godwin, Emmanuel Dauda, Emmanuel Habila, Jonathan Ishaku, Michael Augustine, Michael Sunday, Mathew Nathaniel, Samuel Philip, Yohanna Ezra, Yohanna Samson, Yusuf Samson, Yakubu Stephen, Yakubu Caleb, Yakubu Andrew, Yakubu Pius, Yohanna Caleb, Habila Alheri, Musa Helina, Okoye Praise, Patrick Felicity, Samaila Blessing, Samaila Lois, Samuel Stephen, Yunusa Margret, Dauda Samaila, Anthony Maikai, Habila Micah, Ishaku Mathew, Joshua Nicodemus, Musa Yusuf, Yakubu Lazarus, Ayuba Zafaniya, Luka Musa, Ishaku Anthony, Yohanna Lawrence, Michael Friday, Yohanna Benjamin, Anthony Philip, Ezekiel Yahaya, Samaila Jonathan, Yohanna Emmanuel, Yohanna Jonathan, Philip Ishaya, Emmanuela Amos, Benedicta Anthony, Murna Ezra, Christiana Nuhu, Blessing Musa, Rose Peter, Biskila Yahaya, Hope Johnson, Anthony Simon, Bitrus Cephas, Ezekiel Shedrack, Ishaku Samuel, Joshua Gabriel, Joshua Habila, Michael Imirya, Nuhu Eli, Sunday Philip, Timothy Isah, Yusuf Joel, Samson James, Habila S. Cephas, Mathew Yahaya, Mercy Daniel, Patience Ezekiel, Rose Iliya, Rejoice Joshua, Rita Markus, Clementina Oluwasegun, Blessing Paul, Fibi Samuel, Grace Sunday, Roseline Markus, Musa Nehemiah, Yohanna Dominic, Divine Yohanna, Musa Shedrack, Samson Sarah, Dominic Sabina, Ishaya Jonathan, Daniel Anthony, Njikonge Joseph, Ezekiel Francis, Isah Julius, Ishaya Sunday, Luka Ebenezer, Luka Samaila, Markus Peter, Samuel Joseph, Iliya Paul, Madubueze Favour, Theresa Zacharia, Rebecca Bulus, Justina Daniel, Saraya Ezekiel, Grace Irmiya, Jannet Ishaku, Naomi James, Jannet John, Veronica Luka, Grace Mathew, Happy Samaila, Faith Yohanna, Victoria Yohanna, Agnes Yusuf, Isa Julius, Moses Simon, Cikarfe Timothy, Ezra Jonathan, Irmiya Habila, Iliya Dominic, Magaji Mathew, Amos Istifanus, Chime Onyeaka, Daniel Lawrence, Ezekiel Cleopas, Joel Philip, Nuhu Genesis, Peshe Yakubu, Peter Irmiya, Yakubu Omega, Yohanna Linus, Felicia Andrew, Eunice Bitrus, Victoria Bulus, Onyebuchi Chime, Felistina Dauda, Rejoice Emmanuel, Jessica Ishaku, Sabina Ibrahim, Blessing Luka, Paulina Peter, Felicia Musa, Grace Yakubu, Lawrence Yohanna, Esther Yusuf, Chikumachi Peter Jagaba, Amos Yahaya, Ayuba Zacharia, Bulus Saminu, Jeremiah Ezra, Isah Jemilu, Samuel Pius, Samuel Stephen, Iliya Dominic, Donald Yusuf, Agnes Amos, Grace Emmanuel, Blessing Joshua, Suzanna Musa, Dorcas Mathew, Patience Yusuf, Mary Yohanna, Ruth Yakubu, Goodness Daniel, Lois Emmanuel, Biskila Peter, Daniel Caleb, Emmanuel Amos, Emmanuel Joseph, Ishaya James, Ishaya Shedrack, Nufi Nathan, Yohanna Christopher, Yohanna Prosper, Nwaolisa Chijioke, Mathar Iliya, Happy Jeremiah, Precious Okoye, Ketura Sunday, Salomi Sunday, Susan Zacharia and Florence Michael.
The attack has deepened concerns over worsening school insecurity in the North-central region. Only days earlier, 25 students were abducted in Maga, Kebbi State. The federal government has since ordered the closure of 47 unity schools nationwide, while Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states have also shut down schools in high-risk zones.
Niger State has deployed soldiers, police tactical teams and local hunters to forests around Agwara. Police Commissioner Adamu Elleman said rescuers remain committed to recovering all children unharmed.
The diocese and CAN have urged families to remain calm and prayerful as search-and-rescue operations intensify. Security agencies have not yet identified the group behind the attack, though the method resembles previous mass kidnappings by terror groups operating across Niger, Kebbi and Zamfara.
