The Catholic Diocese of Minna has released the names of 265 students, teachers, and staff members still being held captive by armed groups following a series of mass abductions across communities in Niger State.
The list, made public on Monday, includes children from various mission schools, catechists, teachers, cooks, security personnel, and other workers kidnapped during raids on schools and parish facilities in the past months. According to the Diocese, the publication aims to draw national and international attention to the deteriorating security situation in the state and the urgent need for government intervention.
In a statement signed by the Diocesan Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Musa, the Church said it could no longer remain silent while families endure prolonged anguish and uncertainty.
“We have released the comprehensive list to remind authorities that these are not just statistics. They are our children, our teachers, our parishioners, and our community members. Their absence has left deep emotional scars,” the statement read.
The Diocese lamented that despite repeated appeals to security agencies, many victims remain in captivity for weeks and months, with little progress recorded toward their rescue. It also noted that several families have depleted their resources paying ransoms, while others are still unable to meet the demands of the kidnappers.
Parents and relatives of the abducted students gathered at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Minna, where the list was displayed, weeping as they scanned the names of their loved ones. Some held placards calling for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Niger State government to “take decisive action” to end the kidnappings tormenting rural communities.
Reacting to the development, the Niger State Police Command said efforts to rescue the victims were ongoing but declined to give further operational details. A senior security official, who did not want to be named, described the situation as “deeply challenging,” citing difficult terrain and the mobility of the armed groups.
The Catholic Diocese urged the government to intensify rescue efforts and adopt a more coordinated approach to tackling the kidnapping crisis.
“The lives of these innocent Nigerians must be treated as a national emergency,” the Diocese said.
See complete lists below:
LIST-OF-PERSONS-STILL-KIDNAPPED-AT-ST-MARYS-SCHOOL-PAPIRI
