239 primary school pupils among those in captivity
The ongoing security crisis gripping Nigeria has been thrown into stark relief following the confirmation that a staggering 265 students and staff members remain in the custody of their abductors in Niger State. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, the jurisdiction overseeing the affected institution, released a detailed manifest of the missing individuals, revealing the true scale of the catastrophe.
The list confirms that the majority of the victims are extremely young, with 239 children abducted directly from the Nursery and Primary sections of the school. This figure underscores the harrowing nature of the attack, which intentionally targeted the most vulnerable segment of society. The ages of these younger pupils, who were seized from classes including Nursery 1, Nursery 2, Primary 1 through 5, and other primary classes, remain unknown but fall within the bracket of young children, turning a mass kidnapping into a national tragedy.
Breakdown of the missing victims
The meticulous breakdown provided by the Diocese painted a picture of a student and staff population decimated by the attack. The total number of people still missing stands at 265, comprising both young students and educators.
The breakdown shows:
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Nursery and Primary Pupils: 239 children, including 7 from Nursery 1, 32 from Nursery 2, 62 from Primary 1, 45 from Primary 2, 32 from Primary 3, 26 from Primary 4, 19 from Primary 5, and 16 from other primary classes.
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Secondary School Students: 14 students.
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School Staff: 12 members of the school’s administration and teaching personnel.
The report noted a small measure of relief as approximately fifty students reportedly managed to escape during the chaotic transition into the forest as the bandits moved their captives. However, the sheer number of those still missing has heightened the anguish and desperation within the affected families and the broader community.
No contact established with abductors
As of the latest reports, there has been no communication established with the abductors by school authorities, the parents, or any level of government official. This silence is often used by bandit groups as a strategy to increase tension and pressure on the authorities before issuing a ransom demand or political conditions for release, prolonging the trauma for the victims’ families. The unknown whereabouts of the abductors further complicates any potential rescue operation, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of the hostages in unfamiliar and potentially remote locations.
Labour union condemns ‘barbaric act’
The incident has drawn swift and unequivocal condemnation from organized labor in the state. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Niger State Chapter, publicly denounced the abduction, branding it as a “barbaric act” and a “grave violation of human rights.”
Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene, the NLC Chairman, used the platform to issue a strong challenge to all security agencies—including the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, and local vigilante groups—urging them to escalate and coordinate their rescue operations immediately.
Lafene appealed to both the state and federal governments to ensure that all necessary resources, enhanced intelligence gathering, and logistical support are rapidly deployed to facilitate the swift and safe return of the victims. The NLC chairman stressed that the attack on the children was an attack on the nation’s future: “Education is the cornerstone of our development, and any attack on our children is an attack on the future of Niger State and Nigeria.” He called for unity among citizens and full cooperation with authorities to help end the pervasive insecurity that threatens the foundation of the region’s development. The state chapter of the NLC has vowed to monitor the progress of the rescue efforts closely, reflecting the widespread public concern and demand for accountability in security provision.
The attack reinforces the perception that despite increased security spending, the protection of schools, particularly in the northern parts of the country, remains a critical and consistently failed task for Nigeria’s security apparatus. The focus now rests entirely on the government’s ability to secure the release of these 265 citizens, particularly the 239 small children, without further loss of life or dignity.
