BREAKING: Parents of Kidnapped St. Mary’s Catholic School Pupils In Niger State Stage Protest, Register Missing Children

Over 200 parents of 315 pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic School, who were abducted by gunmen on November 21 in Papiri, Niger State, have taken to the streets to protest, citing government inaction.

SaharaReporters gathered that the parents gathered at the school on Sunday to register their names and those of their missing children as part of a documentation exercise.

At least 50 pupils earlier escaped, but the majority of students and 12 teachers remain in captivity.

SaharaReporters reported on November 21 following the incident, that the Niger State government, led by Mohammed Bago, ordered the temporary closure of boarding schools across the state.

Security agencies also launched search and rescue operations.

The Diocese of Minna, which oversees St. Mary’s Catholic School, released a list of 265 individuals still being held, including 239 nursery and primary pupils, 14 secondary students, and 12 staff members.

At the protest, SaharaReporters gathered that over 200 parents converged at the school, registering their names and those of their missing children as part of a documentation exercise.

Parents carried out the documentation exercise to assist authorities in tracking children still held captive.