Confusion has continued to surround last Friday’s abduction of students from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, following fresh accusations from the Presidency.
On Monday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, accused the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr. Bulus Yohanna, of withholding important information that could help security agencies determine the true number of missing students. He made the allegation during an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television.
The controversy began after reports emerged that armed bandits invaded the remote school community at night, causing panic among students and staff. Many students were said to have fled into surrounding bushes and later made their way back home. However, the exact number of those taken away has remained uncertain.
During the interview, Onanuga accused the Niger CAN chairman of “playing games” with such a sensitive issue. He said Yohanna’s statements had created confusion for both the government and security agencies working to rescue the missing children.
He dismissed earlier claims made by Yohanna that 51 abducted students had been rescued. According to Onanuga, those students were never kidnapped in the first place.
“From what we gathered, those students ran away when the bandits arrived and later returned home. They were not abducted,” Onanuga explained.
He stressed that the government was still struggling to determine how many students were actually kidnapped because the school and religious leaders had not provided detailed and reliable information.
Onanuga said the situation had been made more difficult because the school did not have an accurate list of boarding and day students present on the night of the attack.
“I learnt that when the bandits came in the night, the students were running helter-skelter and some of them merely ran back to their homes,” he said. “As at the moment, the authorities are in the dark as to how many people are really missing.”
He added that even security agencies deployed to handle the case had not received clear records from the school and community leaders.
Niger State has suffered frequent attacks by armed bandits in recent years, especially in rural communities close to forests that stretch into neighbouring states. Schools have been targeted several times, with mass abductions becoming a major security headache for local authorities.
One of the most notable incidents was the 2021 abduction of students from Government Science College, Kagara, also in Niger State. Similar attacks in Tegina and other parts of the state have led to increased fear among parents and teachers.
The Papiri community, where St. Mary’s Private Catholic Schools are located, is a small rural settlement with limited security presence, making it more vulnerable to such attacks.
Although the exact number of missing students remains unclear, the Federal Government says it is committed to securing their safe return. Onanuga stated that security agencies, including soldiers, police officers, and local vigilantes, were already searching surrounding forests for the abductors.
He also appealed to school authorities and CAN leadership in Niger State to cooperate fully with investigators so that the rescue operation would be effective.
“This is not the time for anyone to hide information. We need to know the exact situation to bring the children home safely,” he said.
As of the time of writing, the Niger State chapter of CAN has not issued a fresh statement responding to Onanuga’s accusations. However, observers say the public disagreement between government officials and religious leaders may further complicate rescue efforts if not resolved quickly.
Meanwhile, parents in the Papiri community and neighbouring villages remain anxious. Many say they are still searching for their children who fled during the attack and may be hiding in the bush or staying with relatives in nearby towns.
A community leader who spoke anonymously said the situation has caused fear among families, adding that they want clear communication from both the government and CAN about ongoing rescue efforts.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger protection for schools in rural areas, especially in states affected by banditry. Education experts argue that the government must improve security infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, emergency alert systems and collaboration with local vigilantes.
Parents and community leaders are also urging the government to redeploy more security personnel to remote areas where bandits frequently operate.
