Nigeria: Bishop welcomes arrest of school kidnappers

Bishop Yohanna of Kontagora, Nigeria © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

A Nigerian bishop has welcomed the news that arrests have been made linked to the mass kidnapping of hundreds of schoolchildren - but said more must be done.

Bandits attacked St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Kontagora, north-west Nigeria, abducting 289 primary school pupils, 14 secondary school students and 12 staff on 21st November 2025.

Five suspects were arrested on Monday (1st June) for allegedly providing logistical support and weapons to the group responsible for the kidnapping according to Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS).

Security sources stated that a large cache of weapons was seized during the operation, including 15 AK-47 rifles and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition.

Bishop Bulus Yohanna of Kontagora told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the arrests were welcomed and hoped that it would bring hope to the victims and their families.

He added: "For a long time, we feared that the issue of bringing the perpetrators to justice had been forgotten. However, we are grateful that the government has continued to make efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.

"Families will be relieved and happy to know that those who planned the abduction of their children have been arrested. This is truly good news."

But the bishop stressed that arrests alone are not enough and called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted and brought to justice through a transparent legal process.

He said: "It is one thing to apprehend individuals, but it is another thing to hold them accountable through appropriate punishment.

"Such action is necessary not only to provide justice for the victims and their families, but also to serve as a deterrent to others who may have similar intentions."

Bishop Yohana called on the Nigerian authorities to conduct all legal proceedings publicly and transparently, ensuring that victims' families are informed of the outcomes.

"Trials and judgments should be conducted publicly and transparently. The outcome and the penalties imposed should be clearly communicated so that families can find some measure of relief, knowing that despite the trauma and suffering they have endured, something positive has come out of their long struggle for justice."

The bishop also appealed to the global community not to lose interest in the case adding: "We expect the international community, including organisations such as ACN, to continue advocating for accountability and insisting that those responsible are properly punished."

Northern and central Nigeria have witnessed a series of killings, and mass kidnappings of students, clergy and civilians by criminals and extremists in recent years, leaving many Christian communities living under the constant threat of violence.

ACN continues to support the Church in Nigeria, providing help and support for Christian communities affected by violence and insecurity.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org