St Mary’s Catholic school abduction: Two victims’ parents die from shock, trauma

At least two parents of abducted students of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly passed away due to shock and trauma following the kidnapping of their children.

The two deceased parents include a male and a female.

The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and proprietor of the school, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Minna.

He explained that one of the parents, Anthony Musa, suffered a heart attack after learning that three of his children were among those abducted by gunmen last Friday.

Bishop Yohanna, who is also the Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), stated that the identity of the other parent who died as a result of trauma caused by the abduction has not yet been ascertained.

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.”

Recall that armed bandits invaded St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, and kidnapped 303 students and 12 teachers on Friday, November 21, 2025.

On Sunday, November 23, a total of 50 of the kidnapped students, who escaped from their captors 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,” according to the statement issued by Rev. Yohanna.

The abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School is one of several incidents of mass kidnappings targeting schools in various parts of northern Nigeria, highlighting the need for increased security and protection for educational institutions and sparking widespread outrage and concern.

State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago stated that efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining missing students safely.