Nigeria: Bishop of Kontagora welcomes arrest of suspects linked to Catholic school kidnapping and calls for justice
“The families will be relieved and happy to hear that those who planned the abduction of their children have been arrested. This is truly good news,” says Bishop Bulus Yohanna.
Bishop Bulus Yohanna of Kontagora, Nigeria, has welcomed reports that security forces in Nigeria arrested individuals allegedly involved in the mass kidnapping that took place on 21 November 2025 at St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri in the Diocese of Kontagora.
A total of 265 students and staff members were abducted in a crime that shocked the country and drew international attention to the growing insecurity affecting many communities.
For weeks, Bishop Bulus Yohanna called for prayers and demanded justice for the victims and their families. The arrest of the suspects represents an important step towards shedding light on one of the most serious attacks suffered by a Catholic educational institution in recent years.
According to information released to the press by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), five suspects were arrested for allegedly providing logistical support and weapons to the group responsible for the kidnapping. Among those detained are two foreign nationals. During the operation, the authorities reported the seizure of several weapons and ammunition.
Responding to the news, Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Diocese of Kontagora told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the arrests bring hope to the victims and their families.
“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.”
According to Bishop Bulus, the arrests are an encouraging sign that the suffering endured by the victims has not been ignored: “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.”
The bishop stressed, however, that arrests alone are not enough. He called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted and brought to justice through a transparent legal process.
“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.”
Nigeria has witnessed a series of mass kidnappings of students, clergy and civilians in recent years, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country. Many Christian communities continue to live under the constant threat of attacks, abductions and violence carried out by criminal gangs and extremist groups.
For Bishop Bulus, the next stage is crucial. He 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 international community not to lose interest in the case:
“We expect the international community, including organisations such as ACN, to continue advocating for accountability and insisting that those responsible are properly punished.”
ACN continues to support the Church in Nigeria through pastoral, humanitarian and spiritual assistance, while providing a voice to the local Church and drawing the attention of the international community to the severe challenges faced by Christians affected by violence and insecurity.
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