Bago admits 315 pupils abducted from Niger school, two parents die

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago. Credit: @NigerStateNG | X

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Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has admitted the abduction of 315 school children from a Catholic school in Niger State.

The governor made this known on Friday during the inauguration of commissioners, elected local government chairmen and their deputies, where he requested a minute of silence for two parents of the abducted children who reportedly died from shock.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Northern Region and the FCT, Rev. John Hayab, in November revealed that a parent died of a heart attack following the abduction of his three children at St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.

Bago had earlier said that there was no abduction of school children at St Mary’s Catholic School.

He granted an interview on TVC where he said that the bandits only came to the school but did not abduct anyone.

According to him, the bandits only shot sporadically into the air to scare the children before taking their leave, while the children fled and hid in the bush.

Terrorists invaded St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area on November 21 2025, taking away 315 pupils, students and a teacher to an unknown destination in the forest.

Fifty of the pupils escaped from the terrorists after two days, while 100 were rescued by the Federal Government and security agencies after nearly two weeks.

The governor prayed for the safe return of the remaining 115 abductees and pledged to give political appointments to indigenes of Papiri to ensure that residents of the communities were carried along in the political scheme of things in the state.

“Let us put the old aside and embrace a new Niger. We want a new Niger where the son of a nobody can become somebody. It is time to retract our steps.

“Three weeks ago, we woke up with the terrifying news of the abduction of our children and teachers, thank God we have rescued 100 and we hope that the remaining are rescued and reunited with their families soon.

“In this government, we will engage and appoint people from Papiri into our government,” Bago said.

The governor thanked God that Niger State was still united after the incident.

“Oh God we beseech you to rescue Niger state, rescue our children and restore unto us lasting peace. Those who chose the wrong path, God please redirect them,” he said.

The Secretary to the State Government, Usman Abubakar, in his remarks said the emergence of the appointees and elected chairmen was as a result of their capabilities and pedigree.

He urged them to settle quickly and deliver the mandate to the people, especially in strengthening security, improving education and the healthcare sectors.

They were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, who was represented by Justice Amina of Court 6, Minna.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, while welcoming the return of the 100 students, immediately renewed efforts to secure the release of the remaining 115 pupils and their teachers, directing security agencies to intensify operations and ensure the safe return of all victims.

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