Police begin documentation of abducted students at St Mary’s Catholic school in Niger state

The Nigeria Police have begun documenting students and teachers abducted in Papiri town, Agwara local government area of Niger state.

The process follows uncertainty over the exact number of victims taken by armed groups last week.

Parents of the affected students and teachers were invited on Friday to provide details of those still missing.

The police said the lack of credible statistics has made it difficult to determine those kidnapped or those who have returned.

Reports had suggested that over 259 students and 13 teachers were abducted, while 66 escaped under unclear circumstances.

Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in Niger, told ThisDay that parents were asked to give information on the children, including those who have reunited with their families.

He did not disclose how many names were currently on the register.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger told BBC Hausa that the government had yet to confirm the number of abducted students or those rescued.

Bago said the school was ordered shut in 2021 and never received approval to reopen, adding that the missionary who founded the school had relocated abroad, and road construction workers who later managed the institution had left the community.