NIGER State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has finally confirmed the abduction of 315 pupils and students from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of the state, reversing his earlier position that no schoolchildren were taken by bandits.
News Point Nigeria reports that Governor Bago made the admission on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed commissioners as well as elected local government chairmen and their deputies in Minna, the state capital.
In a sombre moment during the ceremony, the governor called for a minute of silence in honour of two parents of the abducted children who reportedly died from shock following the incident.
“Let us observe a minute of silence for two parents who lost their lives as a result of the trauma and shock from the abduction of their children,” Bago said.
The confirmation comes weeks after conflicting accounts emerged over the November 21, 2025 attack on the Catholic school community. Following the incident, Governor Bago had granted an interview on TVC News where he dismissed claims of mass abduction, insisting that armed men merely invaded the school premises, fired sporadically into the air and fled, while pupils scattered into nearby bushes for safety.
However, fresh details and mounting evidence, including testimonies from religious leaders and security agencies, have now forced an official acknowledgment of the scale of the incident.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, had earlier disclosed in November that a parent died of a heart attack after learning that his three children were among those abducted from the school.
According to security and church sources, terrorists stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Private Schools in Papiri on November 21, 2025, and whisked away 315 pupils, students and at least one teacher into the forest.
In the days that followed, fifty of the abducted pupils reportedly escaped from their captors after spending two nights in the bush. Nearly two weeks later, another 100 pupils were rescued through joint operations by federal security agencies, following directives from President Bola Tinubu.
This leaves 115 pupils and their teacher still in captivity.
During his address, Governor Bago prayed for the safe return of the remaining abductees and pledged to ensure that the Papiri community is not politically marginalised in the affairs of the state.
“We thank God that 100 of our children have been rescued. We are hopeful and prayerful that the remaining 115 will return home alive and well to be reunited with their families,” the governor said.
He further announced that indigenes of Papiri would be considered for political appointments as part of efforts to foster inclusion, healing and trust in the affected community.
“In this government, we will engage and appoint people from Papiri. We want a new Niger State where the son of a nobody can become somebody. It is time for us to retract our steps and move forward together,” he added.
Governor Bago also expressed gratitude that the state remained united despite the tragic incident, calling on divine intervention to restore peace.
“Oh God, we beseech you to rescue Niger State, rescue our children and restore lasting peace. Those who have chosen the wrong path, please redirect them,” he prayed.
Earlier in the ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Abubakar, said the appointment of commissioners and the emergence of elected local government chairmen were based on merit, competence and proven capacity to deliver.
He charged the new officials to settle quickly into office and prioritise key sectors such as security, education and healthcare.
“They must justify the confidence reposed in them and work tirelessly to improve the lives of the people,” Abubakar said.
The oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, who was represented at the ceremony by Justice Amina of Court 6, Minna.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to securing the release of the remaining abducted pupils and their teacher.