Nigeria, Dec. 25 -- The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed that all pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have been rescued and reunited with their families, bringing formal closure to the 21 November school attack that shocked the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Bishop of Kontagora, Bulus Yohanna, the diocese said a comprehensive reconciliation and verification exercise established that 230 persons were actually abducted during the raid and that all have now regained their freedom.

"The final reconciliation confirms that 230 pupils and staff members were abducted during the attack on St. Mary's School...