At least two parents of the abducted students of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have died after suffering shock and trauma following the kidnapping of their children.
The two victims include a man and a woman.
The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed the deaths in a statement released in Minna.
He said one of the parents, Anthony Musa, died of a heart attack after learning that three of his children were among the students taken by gunmen last Friday.
According to him, “The man, Anthony Musa, died of a heart attack, but the female, we don’t have the details yet because we couldn’t reach the family.”
Bishop Yohanna, who also chairs the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, added that the identity of the female parent had not been confirmed.
Armed bandits stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School on Friday, November 21, 2025, and abducted 303 students and 12 teachers.
By Sunday, November 23, a total of 50 students who escaped between Friday and Saturday were reunited with their parents.
“This is to notify the public that, as at Sunday, 23rd November 2025, we have received some good news as fifty pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents. We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents,” Rev Yohanna said.
The mass abduction has added to the series of school kidnappings recorded across northern Nigeria, raising fresh concerns over student safety and the protection of learning centres.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago said rescue efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe return of the remaining missing students.
